Incident Overview
An aircraft was involved in an accident while performing the second of two low passes over the Intercoastal Waterway. During that pass, the aircraft collided with the muddy bank of the waterway. The collision caused the nose gear to dig into the ground, and the aircraft nosed over.
Witness Observations
According to witnesses, the aircraft was seen passing at a low altitude. Their reports indicate that the aircraft was flying low during both passes.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that while flying at low altitude, he heard a loud noise. He stated that he believed the noise came from the engine. Based on this, he elected to make an emergency landing.
Post-Crash Examination
A post-crash run-up of the engine was conducted. The run-up revealed that the engine operated normally up to full power. No abnormalities were detected.