NTSB Factual Report

During a local area personal flight, the pilot, who was flying a tail wheel-equipped airplane, decided to make a "practice Landing" on a gravel bar near the middle of a river. Because of the limited landing distance, the pilot flew his approach at a low airspeed, with the intention of touching down at the very edge of the bar. While on short final, the airplane encountered a downdraft and its main landing gear tires touched the surface of the water whereupon it flipped over onto its back and came to rest upon the surface of the gravel bar. According to the pilot, there were no anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control systems. As a result of the accident sequence, the top of the rudder and one lift strut were bent.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during a practice off-airport landing.