SEA94LA241

While on final approach for a water landing, the amphibian airplane experienced a high sink rate. The airplane landed hard and nosed over. The pilot was not rated for seaplane operations and except for twenty hours he had recently accumulated in the airplane, the pilot had not flown for three years prior to the accident.

On September 18, 1994, at 1627, an amphibian Oestreich Avid Flyer Mk IV, N1280D, landed hard and nosed over during the water landing on Moses Lake, Moses Lake, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was not injured. The flight had departed from Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, on September 18, 1994, at 1600, for the personal flight to the pilot's residence on the lake.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that while on final approach to the lake, the airplane experienced a high sink rate and landed hard on the water. The right float collapsed and the airplane nosed over.

The pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, reported that a total time of 20 hours had been accumulated in the airplane since its completion. The pilot holds a private pilot certificate for single engine land airplanes and is not rated for seaplane operations. The pilot also reported that except for the 20 hours that were recently accumulated in the Avid Flyer, he had not flown for approximately three years prior to the accident.