5 May 2015: ROBERT M. JONES ZENITH CH 701 NO SERIES — JONES ROBERT M

5 May 2015: ROBERT M. JONES ZENITH CH 701 NO SERIES — JONES ROBERT M

No fatalities • Palmer, AK, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's excessive descent rate and subsequent hard landing during the landing flare/touchdown.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The sport pilot reported that he was landing his float-equipped, experimental amateur-built airplane on a remote, smooth and glassy water lake. The pilot said that during the approach, just before touchdown, the airplane encountered a slight downdraft, and the airplane's right float struck the water, which pivoted it to the right. The left wing subsequently struck the water, and the airplane nosed over and sank. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pitch control — Not attained/maintained
  • cause Pilot
  • Contributed to outcome
  • Contributed to outcome

Conditions

Weather
VMC, vis 10sm

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