Incident Overview
The pilot of an airplane reported that while maneuvering for a low pass over a remote gravel bar, he inadvertently lost altitude, resulting in the right wing striking the ground. The collision caused substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, wings, and lift struts.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot noted that the accident may have been prevented if he had maintained awareness of wind conditions and how they affect aircraft performance.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, wings, and lift struts. Further details on the specific extent of damage were not provided.