Amphibious Floatplane Strikes Trees Following Downdraft During Landing Approach (N13VF)

The Accident

During an on-demand air taxi flight, an airline transport certificated pilot was preparing to land an amphibious float-equipped airplane near a cabin located on the shore of a coastal bay. The wind was blowing from the bay toward the land at 10 to 15 knots. The pilot chose to approach over land. As the airplane descended over a small creek bed adjacent to a hill, it encountered a downdraft and descended rapidly. The left wing then collided with alder trees, which induced a 180-degree spin. The right wing and float assembly were subsequently torn off the airplane. The closest official weather observation station, located 30 miles away, was reporting calm wind at the time.

Investigation Findings

The investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions and failure to maintain adequate altitude and clearance, resulting in a collision with terrain during the final landing approach. A contributing factor was the presence of a downdraft.