Accident Overview
An amphibian aircraft crashed during a water landing on the Miles River in Maryland. The pilot had flown to the river in the afternoon to pick up a passenger. He made a water landing when the surface had ripples from a light breeze, and he had no trouble seeing the water surface at that time. After taking off with the passenger, they later returned to land.
The Landing and Crash
When the pilot returned to land, the water was glassy. The pilot stated that during the landing, he thought his approach was perfect and that he was approximately 5 to 6 feet above the water and just beginning to flare when the aircraft crashed.
Rescue and Injuries
The pilot was thrown from the aircraft and swam back. Approximately four minutes after the accident, both occupants were pulled from the water. The passenger, who had gone through the windshield, died later. No shoulder harness was installed.
Visibility Conditions
The water visibility at the site was clear. When the investigator landed on glassy water there the next day, there was no visible surface; all he could see was what appeared to be the river bottom.