NORWAY, ME, USA
N8717Z
Cessna 185
The pilot was conducting floatplane operations on a lake. When he found himself fast and high on approach to a small area on the lake, he configured the airplane with 40 degrees of flaps. The airplane touched down flat and hard, and was headed for an obstruction in the water. The pilot's focus was on the obstruction in the water and he did not apply enough back pressure to the yoke. When the pilot added right rudder to avoid the obstruction, the airplane's left float submerged and the left wing impacted the water. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted.
On July 25, 1997, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 185, a floatplane, N8717Z, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at Norway Lake, Norway, Maine. The certificated student pilot was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the instructional flight that departed the Naples Seaplane Base, Naples, Maine, at 1120. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he flew directly to Norway and performed a touch and go on the "big side" of the lake. He added that the winds were variable at 3 knots and the maneuver was "routine". After completing the maneuver, the pilot flew to the "small side" of the lake where he planned to perform another touch and go. He further stated, "I had previously landed here very easily which must have made me over confident." The pilot added that on final, he was fast and high, so he configured the airplane with 40 degrees of flaps. He also stated that he didn't execute a go-around because of high terrain, and the fact that the airplane was configured with full flaps. According to the pilot, the airplane touched down flat, but hard, and was headed for an obstruction in the water. The pilot noted that his focus was on the obstruction, and that he did not apply enough back pressure to the yoke. When the pilot added right rudder to avoid the obstruction, the airplane's left float submerged and the left wing impacted the water. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted.
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering to avoid an obstacle.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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