What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot in command (PIC) was taxiing N4773U downwind for departure from crosswind lake, AK. According to the pic's insurance company and NTSB reports, the wind was from the east at thirty (30) knots, steadily increasing and gusty. The lake had two (2) foot waves. Half way down the lake a gust spun the airplane around, the right float dug into a wave, the wind caught the left wing and the airplane began capsizing. The right wing hit the bottom of the lake and the airplane pivoted around it and uprighted. The PIC then taxied the airplane back to shore to await salvage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) WAS TAXIING N4773U DOWNWIND FOR DEPARTURE FROM CROSSWIND LAKE, AK. ACCORDING TO THE PIC'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND NTSB REPORTS, THE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST AT THIRTY (30) KNOTS, STEADILY INCREASING AND GUSTY. THE LAKE HAD TWO (2) FOOT WAVES. HALF WAY DOWN THE LAKE A GUST SPUN THE AIRPLANE AROUND, THE RIGHT FLOAT DUG INTO A WAVE, THE WIND CAUGHT THE LEFT WING AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN CAPSIZING. THE RIGHT WING HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE AND THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED AROUND IT AND UPRIGHTED. THE PIC THEN TAXIED THE AIRPLANE BACK TO SHORE TO AWAIT SALVAGE.
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 N4773U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.