Incident Overview
On January 4, 2022, at approximately 1130 central standard time, an Aviat A-1B airplane, registration N188DS, was substantially damaged during an accident on Matagorda Island, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a personal operation under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Details
The pilot and passenger departed at about 1005 and proceeded northeast at a cruise altitude of approximately 3,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot reported performing a precautionary landing for reasons that were not specified, touching down on a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left and collided with a sand dune, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
Subsequent Reporting
When reporting the accident to his insurance company, the pilot stated that he had landed to take a picture. He did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Postaccident Observations
A postaccident photograph of the airplane revealed that one propeller blade exhibited leading edge polishing; the other propeller blade was obscured from view. The airplane was not examined following the accident.