20130827018139A

On August 27, 2013 the airman, sole occupant of the aircraft, was repositioning company aircraft, N734Q, a DHC-2 beaver on straight floats, from h marker lake to the kuskokwim river in Bethel, Alaska. Due to the size of h marker lake, it is common practice to reposition all aircraft empty from the operator's main base of operations to a larger, safer body of water where 135 portion of the flight begins. N734Q was the second aircraft of the flight of 2 to reposition to the prearranged and commonly used, client pick-up at Z59. Prior to takeoff, the airman of N734Q received a call from the company airman who just successfully landed at Z59, notifying him that the water was really choppy and it advised him to plan to land up river from Z59 and taxi to the sea plane base.

During the approach and landing at Z59, the airman of N734Q stated he was fixated on the conditions of the river and discounted the 45 degree, 10 knot crosswind from the left estimated to be present at the time of landing. Upon touchdown, the airman of N734Q failed to properly align the aircraft to compensate for the crosswind causing the right wing of the aircraft to contact the water followed by the left. The aircraft came to a stop in an upright position. The airman taxied the aircraft to the city dock where it was loaded onto a trailer and removed from the water. No injuries were reported, substantial damage occurred to the aircraft due to right wing spar and rib damage. Left float spars and wires were also damaged as a result from the accident.