Plane Flipped On Landing

A single-engine Cessna 182Q amphibian coming in for landing on a Wisconsin lake Sunday afternoon apparently flipped over when it hit the water, destroying the aircraft and killing the pilot.

Authorities in Barron County, WI said pilot James Ayotte, 62, was landing on Staples Lake to visit friends living nearby when the accident occurred.

Witnesses told the Associated Press the plane's wheeled landing gear was down when the plane came in to land on the water. Video footage of the accident plane (below) appears to support that claim.

Vicki Mortenson, who lives on the lake with her husband, told WCCO-TV the couple was awaiting Ayotte's arrival when the Barron County Sheriff's Department called her, to report a plane down in the lake near her home.

"I ran over to take a look and when I saw the plane upside down, I became afraid," said Mortenson. "I recognized the kind of floats he had on. I saw them pulling the plane up. I saw the lavender fuselage and I knew for sure that it was him."

Mortenson added Ayotte made frequent visits to Staples Lake. On some occasions, she said, he would land the plane at a nearby airstrip.

**   Report created 9/25/2006   Record 5
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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 97435        Make/Model: C182      Description: 182, Skylane
  Date: 09/24/2006     Time: 1930

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: CUMBERLAND   State: WI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT ON ATTEMPTED LANDING ON LAKE, CRASHED AND SANK, STAPLES LAKE,
  CUMBERLAND, WI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: METAR KRPD 242055Z AUTO 30008KT 10SM SCT050 17/05 A2992

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Landing      Operation: OTHER

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI  (GL13)                 Entry date: 09/25/2006

FMI: www.faa.gov