CRESCENT LAKE, AK, USA
N8190Y
DE HAVILLAND DHC-2
APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS AFTER LEVELING THE WINGS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A GLASSY WATER LANDING ON A LARGE LAKE, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A HARD PREMATURE LANDING. THE FLOATS WERE SEPARATED, AND THE AIRPLANE SANK IMMEDIATELY. THE PILOT SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE FLAT LIGHTING AND GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS HE LOST HIS DEPTH PERCEPTION AND MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE. HE SAID WHEN THE AIRPLANE HIT THE WATER HE THOUGHT HE WAS STILL 70 TO 80 FEET ABOVE THE WATER.
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGING HIS ALTITUDE ON FINAL APPROACH. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GLASSY WATER CONDITION.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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