SEA04LA055

The pilot was conducting a series of water landings on a river in a 10 knot crosswind that was occasionally gusting to near 15 knots. During the accident landing, he inadvertently let the aircraft touch down in a sideways drift, resulting in the left wing digging into the water, damaging the left wing sponson and the structure of the wing itself. Immediately after the accident, the pilot taxied to the shore of a small island in the river in order to avoid the possibility that the aircraft may sink if it was taking on water. During that taxi, the tip of the left wing remained under the water. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft by an FAA Inspector did not reveal any evidence of a flight control anomaly, and according to the pilot, there was no indication that there had been any functional problem with the aircraft.

On March 14, 2004, approximately 1200 Pacific standard time, a Lake LA-4-200, N65675, collided with the water during a touch-and-go landing on the Pend Oreille River about two miles north of Cusick, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot had made multiple touch-and-go landings on the river immediately prior to this accident, and this landing was supposed to be the next in that series of touch-and-goes.

According to the pilot/owner, he was conducting the series of water landings on the river in a 10 knot crosswind that was occasionally gusting to near 15 knots. During the subject landing, he inadvertently let the aircraft touch down in a sideways drift, resulting in the left wing digging into the water, and damage to the left wing sponson and the structure of the wing itself. Immediately after the accident, the pilot taxied to the shore of a small island in the river in order to avoid the possibility that the aircraft may sink if it was taking on water. During that taxi, the tip of the left wing remained under the water.

A post-accident inspection of the aircraft by an FAA Inspector from the Spokane Flight Standards District Office, did not reveal any evidence of a flight control anomaly, and according to the pilot, there was no indication that there had been any functional problem with the aircraft.

Although the pilot did not poses a seaplane rating, his logbook records indicated that he had received instruction in the accident aircraft, and that he had received a high-performance aircraft and complex aircraft endorsement in the aircraft on 6/14/2003. In addition, there was an entry in his logbook from a Certified Flight Instructor stating that he had received both a land and water "checkout" in the aircraft on 6/14/2003.