N913SM

On July 29, 2003, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 185 airplane, N913SM, sustained substantial damage when the left wing struck the water following a loss of control during landing on a remote lake, located about 28 miles northwest of Tyonek, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated about 1430 from another remote lake located about 36 miles northwest of Tyonek. No flight plan was filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings on three different lakes that are located within a five mile radius of each other. He said that while landing to the west on Coal Creek Lake, the airplane "veered quickly southeast", the left float submerged, the left wing struck the water, and the airplane nosed down, and sank. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

According to the pilot, there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.