What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4) The second pilot was a rated float plane pilot, but did not meet the criteria to act as pilot-in-command (PIC) by his employer, the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (usfws). The PIC, who was also employed by the usfws, was a certificated flight instructor, and was giving additional instruction to the second pilot to meet the usfws standards for PIC. The second pilot was flying at the time of the accident. The two pilots had been practicing touch-and-go landings on a lake. During the approach to land, the airplane's floats inadvertently touched on a flat, grassy area short of the water. Engine power was applied, and the airplane continued to the lake to make an uneventful landing. Postflight inspection disclosed a damaged fuselage near the left float's rear attachment point. The PIC believes the airplane may have encountered a downdraft just prior to touching down on the grassy area.
As the FAA filed it
(.4) THE SECOND PILOT WAS A RATED FLOAT PLANE PILOT, BUT DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA TO ACT AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) BY HIS EMPLOYER, THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS). THE PIC, WHO WAS ALSO EMPLOYED BY THE USFWS, WAS A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND WAS GIVING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION TO THE SECOND PILOT TO MEET THE USFWS STANDARDS FOR PIC. THE SECOND PILOT WAS FLYING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TWO PILOTS HAD BEEN PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS ON A LAKE. DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE'S FLOATS INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED ON A FLAT, GRASSY AREA SHORT OF THE WATER. ENGINE POWER WAS APPLIED, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LAKE TO MAKE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION DISCLOSED A DAMAGED FUSELAGE NEAR THE LEFT FLOAT'S REAR ATTACHMENT POINT. THE PIC BELIEVES THE AIRPLANE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN ON THE GRASSY AREA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N3685Z · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.