What happened
During a solo flight intended to build experience for a floatplane endorsement, the pilot performed several successful landings on a large lake. After completing a touch-and-go maneuver at the southeast end of the lake, the pilot initiated another approach to land in the same vicinity. During this final landing attempt, the pilot adjusted the approach slightly to the right to avoid other water traffic. Upon touchdown, the right outer wing made contact with the water, causing the DHC-2 Beaver to nose over and begin sinking. The pilot managed to exit the aircraft before it was fully submerged. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries reported.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the right float and wing sustained damage consistent with high hydrodynamic forces. Specifically, the right float bow was driven upward and inward, causing structural failures in the area ahead of the spreader strut attachments. No evidence was found suggesting a collision with submerged or floating debris. The aircraft's control systems and float structure were found to be in good working order prior to the impact.
Analysis suggests the aircraft touched down in a nose-down attitude while drifting toward the right. While the pilot reported a wind from 330 degrees, meteorological data from nearby Muskoka and North Bay airports indicated winds that would have produced a crosswind from the left. The investigation concluded that the pilot's limited experience with float-equipped aircraft likely led to an inability to properly compensate for drift or recognize the wind direction during the landing phase.