KING SALMON, AK, USA
N63336
CESSNA 180K
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND, THE FLOATPLANE ENCOUNTERED A MICROBURST (DOWNDRAFT) AND MADE A HARD LANDING ON THE WATER. SHE ELECTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. SHE STATED THAT DURING THE ENSUING TAKEOFF RUN, WHILE STILL ON THE WATER, THE WIND FORCED THE FLOATPLANE TO THE LEFT TOWARD THE SHORELINE, DESPITE HER ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT BACK TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED ROCKS NEAR THE SHORELINE AND NOSED OVER.
On July 12, 1995, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, N63336, a Cessna 180K floatplane, operated by the owner/pilot, sustained substantial damage during takeoff when it collided with the shore of Naknek Lake near Naknek, Alaska. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The ELT actuated and aided in location of the accident. According to the pilot-in-command, the airplane encountered a "microburst" about 50 feet above the water during the approach to landing. The airplane landed hard on the lake, and the pilot decided to perform an aborted landing. She stated that during the takeoff run, while the airplane was still on the water, a strong wind was forcing the airplane to the left despite her attempts to correct to the right. She said the airplane was forced into the shore. The floats struck rocks near the shore and the airplane nosed over.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE DOWNDRAFT AND CROSSWIND WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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