NTSB Factual Report

On July 17, 2010, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Consolidated Aeronautics, Lake LA-4-200 amphibious airplane, N8543H, sustained substantial damage while doing touch-and-go landings on Hewett Lake, about 6 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on July 19, the pilot said he flew to Hewett Lake to visit some friends. He said after the visit, and prior to his returning home, he elected to do some touch-and-go landings on Hewett Lake. The pilot reported that the water was glassy, and the first two landings were harder than he would have liked, and the airplane bounced. He said on the third landing, the airplane landed hard and nosed over. He said he was able to escape the wreckage, inflate his vest, and he was picked up by boaters. The pilot said he made his approach at 60 knots airspeed and 150 feet per minute rate of descent. He said the wind was light, and the water was glassy. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

In a written statement to the NTSB dated October 22, the pilot reported that "after crossing the shoreline, I glanced down at the VSI (vertical speed indicator)..., before I looked up, the airplane impacted the water."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate flare, which resulted in a nose-low impact with glassy water and a subsequent nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention while landing.