On September 23, 1983, a Lake LA-4-200 (registration N1251L) was involved in an aviation accident near Eastsound, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft descended from about 100 feet, touched down on glassy water, skimmed, then nosed over and sank. One of three occupants survived. Bird feathers were found among debris.
Incident
The aircraft was involved in a collision with a body of water during a low altitude maneuver. The water was described as glassy. According to witnesses, the aircraft was seen descending from approximately 100 feet while maintaining a flat attitude. It made contact with the water surface, skimmed along the water, and then the nose pitched down, causing the aircraft to nosed over.
Occupants
The aircraft was occupied by three individuals. They were recovered from the water by a sailboat. Only one of the three occupants survived the accident.
Wreckage and Recovery
After the accident, the aircraft floated for a period of time before sinking in water that was about 240 feet deep. Efforts to locate and raise the aircraft from the water were unsuccessful. Among the debris of the wreckage, a considerable amount of bird feathers was found.