While making a step turn, pilot of amphibian loses control and water loops aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	185047
Time
Date	199108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pit
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 6
ASRS Report	185047
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Step taxiing downwind, began step turn to left, at approximately 90 degree of turn, tail of aircraft spun out digging right float into water (water loop). Situational awareness was lax, deceived of wind velocity because bank protecting water kept waves small in appearance 'lulling' me to make downwind to upwind step taxi turn. Should have slowed the aircraft to displacement taxi before attempting to turn.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE MAKING A STEP TURN, PLT OF AMPHIBIAN LOSES CTL AND WATER LOOPS ACFT.

Narrative: STEP TAXIING DOWNWIND, BEGAN STEP TURN TO L, AT APPROX 90 DEG OF TURN, TAIL OF ACFT SPUN OUT DIGGING R FLOAT INTO WATER (WATER LOOP). SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WAS LAX, DECEIVED OF WIND VELOCITY BECAUSE BANK PROTECTING WATER KEPT WAVES SMALL IN APPEARANCE 'LULLING' ME TO MAKE DOWNWIND TO UPWIND STEP TAXI TURN. SHOULD HAVE SLOWED THE ACFT TO DISPLACEMENT TAXI BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO TURN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.