Accident Overview
A seven-place aircraft collided with a beached, unoccupied 18-foot skiff during a takeoff attempt from a soft beach. The impact caused the aircraft to nose over.
Occupant and Weight Details
The aircraft was designed for seven occupants, but at the time of the accident, there were 12 people on board. Several of these occupants were children being held by adults. According to the investigation, the aircraft was not overweight because the children were held; however, it was out of center of gravity limits.
Takeoff and Collision
The soft sand on the beach was crossed by a number of fish net lines. One passenger reported that the tail of the aircraft dragged on the beach during the takeoff roll. The pilot stated that he had reduced power to abort the takeoff due to slow acceleration. During the abort, the aircraft struck the skiff and nosed over. It could not be determined when the skiff had been placed on the beach.
Additional Circumstances
Not all occupants were using safety belts at the time of the accident.