What happened
The aircraft was attempting to depart from a soft sandy beach when it collided with an unoccupied eighteen-foot skiff that had been beached on the site. At the time of the incident, the seven-place model aircraft carried twelve occupants. Although several passengers were children being held by adults, which meant the total weight did not exceed limits, the distribution of mass caused the center of gravity to fall outside acceptable parameters.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported experiencing slow acceleration. A passenger noted that the tail of the aircraft dragged along the sand during this phase. The pilot decided to cut power and abort the takeoff after striking the skiff, which caused the aircraft to nose over. It remains unknown when the skiff was placed on the beach.
The investigation
Investigation into the mechanical aspects revealed no failure of the airframe or propulsion system prior to the impact. The primary factors were environmental and operational. The soft sand surface, combined with fish net lines crossing the takeoff path, contributed to the resistance encountered during acceleration. The presence of the unoccupied skiff served as the immediate obstacle that halted forward motion.
Findings
The accident was caused by multiple contributing factors. The aircraft was out of center of gravity limits due to improper weight distribution among the twelve occupants. Additionally, the pilot failed to account for the reduced performance on soft sand and the presence of obstacles. Not all occupants were using safety belts at the time of the overturning.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that weight and balance calculations are accurate, accounting for all passengers regardless of age or seating position. Takeoff sites must be cleared of debris and obstacles to prevent collisions during critical acceleration phases.