What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 5, 2020, the pilot departed hilltop airport, AK24, as the sole occupant of N185SZ at about 6:30 pm. He headed toward the knik river valley for some practice landings and low level flying. After a couple of successful landing on various points up the knik, he attempted to fly on top of the water . The pilot contacted the water on a calm part of the river on the right main first' and then set the left main on the water at an indicated airspeed of 90 mph' while following the river. Drag from the gear was greater that the thrust available. The aircraft settled into the water' and the aircraft nosed over.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 5, 2020, THE PILOT DEPARTED HILLTOP AIRPORT, AK24, AS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF N185SZ AT ABOUT 6:30 PM. HE HEADED TOWARD THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY FOR SOME PRACTICE LANDINGS AND LOW LEVEL FLYING. AFTER A COUPLE OF SUCCESSFUL LANDING ON VARIOUS POINTS UP THE KNIK, HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY ON TOP OF THE WATER . THE PILOT CONTACTED THE WATER ON A CALM PART OF THE RIVER ON THE RIGHT MAIN FIRST' AND THEN SET THE LEFT MAIN ON THE WATER AT AN INDICATED AIRSPEED OF 90 MPH' WHILE FOLLOWING THE RIVER. DRAG FROM THE GEAR WAS GREATER THAT THE THRUST AVAILABLE. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER' AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.