ANC99LA071

The pilot was landing the floatplane with a left crosswind. After touchdown on the water, the floatplane swerved left, then nosed down, damaging the right wing, right aileron, and propeller. Postaccident inspection revealed the float struts were straight, and the length of the float flying wires varied by 3/4 inch. The pilot did not remember hitting anything with the floats, but the bottom of the right float had a one foot long crease near the forward compartment. No other mechanical anomalies were noted. The floats were installed 14 hours prior to the accident.

On June 8, 1999, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Cessna 180J airplane, N7560K, sustained substantial damage during landing on Wolf Lake, Palmer, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and the one, pilot-rated passenger aboard were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed from Alexander Creek, Alaska, about 1630. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), during an interview on June 9, that he was landing the airplane with a left crosswind. He stated that the airplane landed on the left float first. The pilot stated that when the right float touched down, the airplane swerved left. He indicated that the airplane pitched nose down, striking the right wing and propeller. The pilot did not remember hitting anything with the floats, although the right float had a one foot long crease along the keel near the forward compartment aft bulkhead. The right wing and aileron sustained substantial damage.

Postaccident inspection revealed that the float struts were straight, and the lengths of the float flying wires varied by 3/4 inches. No other mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane or floats. The floats were installed 14 hours prior to the accident. This was the second landing of the day.