What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot reported that while on his takeoff roll from the nashagak river, at rotation speed, a gust of wind picked up the right wing and the aircraft veered to the left. He applied hard right rudder in an attempt to correct the problem, however, the right wing continued to lift. Additionally, he experienced a strong downdraft at which point both floats struck a gravel bar, bounced and cartwheeled over and the aircraft came to a stop on its back. The pilot also stated that there was 100 foot bluff on the right side of the river, and believes that the bluff produced the gusty wind conditions. The pilot was counseled concerning other possible options, but felt that he had none at the time.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ON HIS TAKEOFF ROLL FROM THE NASHAGAK RIVER, AT ROTATION SPEED, A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE RIGHT WING AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT. HE APPLIED HARD RIGHT RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE RIGHT WING CONTINUED TO LIFT. ADDITIONALLY, HE EXPERIENCED A STRONG DOWNDRAFT AT WHICH POINT BOTH FLOATS STRUCK A GRAVEL BAR, BOUNCED AND CARTWHEELED OVER AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS 100 FOOT BLUFF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIVER, AND BELIEVES THAT THE BLUFF PRODUCED THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED CONCERNING OTHER POSSIBLE OPTIONS, BUT FELT THAT HE HAD NONE AT THE TIME.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.