The pilot of the float-equipped Cessna 180 reported that, during landing on a lake in Willow, Alaska, after observing what he thought were ripples on the water, the airplane touched down sooner than he expected.
The left float skipped on the water, the right float’s toe contacted the water, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare while landing on water with glassy water conditions, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA475
This August 2017 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I was taught to fly it right to the water at a slow rate of descent, chop throttle and ease stick back all the way when you feel the water hit the floats.
There was no technology involved to speak of and I never had a mishap in over 500 landings, day, night, glassy, rough.
Proper glassy water landing procedure: Do an initial overfly of intended landing area to see how close to the shore you can land parallel to to enhance depth perception. Always use a constant descent rate of 150 fpm all the way to touchdown. This works fine out in the middle of a lake as well, with no other frames of reference for depth perception. Must be disciplined and not go on “feelings” . Same technique for landing at night on water. Start the approach as early as practical to avoid running out of landing area.
Do you agree that all pilots and student pilots be required to review the accident incident mechanical history of any aircraft [ make model series ] they fly for the first time.
Why?
Less likely to repeat the same accident.
P.S. I tell my students after the get the Certificate – ” …good luck in your flying career and I hope they never have an accident — but if they do – please do me a favor MAKE IT AN ORIGINAL ONE! “
I love this. Just like someone else put it here, “Out of fuel, penalty $500” and NOT: Claim from insurance company.
It’s calls for much more taking care and being responsible than being lax.
Why not just learn and proper glassy water landing technique, rather than throw technology at a simple problem to solve ?
There is a device called FlareAssist that uses radar to tell the pilot in her headset the height above the water. It would be very helpful for landings on glassy water, and could prevent accidents like this one.
$2500 and experimental only as far as I can tell.