Accident Overview
On October 4, 2020, at approximately 1505 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P amphibious floatplane, registration N6506M, crashed near Beechhurst, New York. The private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger in the copilot seat sustained serious injuries, while the passenger in the rear seat was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight Sequence
The flight originated from Brookhaven Airport (HWV) with the intended destination of the pilot's home on the south bank of the East River, between the Throgs Neck Bridge and the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. According to the pilot-rated passenger, the pilot initiated a landing approach on the eastern side of the Throgs Neck Bridge, flying westbound and beneath the bridge, which was described as their normal procedure. As the airplane touched down on the water, it struck a wake created by a boat that had recently crossed the intended landing path. The impact caused the airplane to bounce twice. The pilot appeared to veer left to avoid the wake but realized the airplane was too fast as it approached a concrete pier on the river's southern bank. The pilot then increased engine power to initiate a go-around. The passenger questioned the decision, later stating that if the pilot had cut power, the crash would have been less forceful.
Witness and Pilot Statements
A pilot-rated witness traveling eastbound by boat about 200 to 300 yards west of the initial touchdown point reported that the airplane was landing downwind with an estimated tailwind of 10 to 15 knots. He observed that the first water contact was nearly level and produced a high rebound, and the second contact appeared to involve only the left pontoon, which may have skewed the airplane to the south, leading to the impact. The witness later provided first aid.
Weeks after the accident, the pilot was interviewed by FAA aviation safety inspectors and provided an account consistent with the passenger's. He stated that he applied full throttle and the engine responded with correct full throttle power and performed normally. He noted that the airplane lacked the airspeed and distance to complete a safe takeoff and added, "I don't know why I pushed the throttle." He believed the airplane would have impacted the bulkhead regardless, but at a much slower speed.
Surveillance Video and Examination
Surveillance video recovered by NYPD showed a brief view of the airplane before impact, traveling at high speed in a nose-high attitude with both pontoons in the water when it collided with the pier, generating white foam, spray, and a noticeable wake. The airplane was destroyed by impact; the engine separated from its mounts and the floats were entangled with the fuselage. Examination at a recovery facility revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies.
Weather and Environmental Conditions
A surface observation at LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), 4 miles west of the accident site, recorded wind from 050° at 10 knots. The pilot-rated witness reported an estimated tailwind of 10 to 15 knots. The accident occurred on the East River near Beechhurst, New York.
Reference Material
The Federal Aviation Administration Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook (FAA-H-8083-23-1) notes that if a seaplane touches down while drifting sideways, the sudden resistance can lead to loss of directional control and a waterloop. It also states that floatplanes frequently have less crosswind component capability than their landplane counterparts, and directional control is more difficult on water due to yielding surface and lack of brakes.