Accident Details
Shortly after takeoff from Hudson Lake, the left wingtip of the aircraft contacted the water during the takeoff roll. This contact caused the aircraft to cartwheel. The aircraft came to rest inverted, floated for a short period, and then sank.
Witness Account
A witness present at the lake reported that the weather conditions were the worst he had observed since his arrival in late May 1982. According to the witness, waves on the lake were at least 4 feet high and were breaking over the aircraft's floats. Gale-force winds and heavy rain were occurring at the time of the accident. The witness noted that the waves in the cove where the takeoff originated were moving in a direction opposite to that of the takeoff. Furthermore, the wave direction in the cove was almost 90 degrees different from the wave direction in the center of the lake. The witness stated that the waves were not a true indication of the wind direction due to this discrepancy. During the takeoff, the witness found it difficult to determine when the aircraft got on step because it was bouncing severely and water was hitting the struts.
Safety Equipment
The witness observed that the only person wearing a flotation device was the pilot. All life vests on board were located under each passenger seat, secured in a pouch by metal twist fasteners.