What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was attempting a water landing in challenging environmental conditions. The aircraft encountered turbulent crosswinds at the moment of touchdown. As the aircraft made contact with the water surface, the left float and the adjacent wing section dug into the water rather than floating smoothly.
This immediate resistance caused the aircraft to lose directional control and begin a violent cartwheeling motion across the water's surface. The chaotic movement continued until the aircraft finally came to rest. During this process, the right wingtip made contact with the bottom of the bay, indicating significant lateral displacement and impact with the seabed.
The investigation
Following the accident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the circumstances of the landing. He acknowledged that the decision to land directly in the harbor was not optimal given the conditions. The pilot stated that it would have been more prudent to land outside the harbor and taxi to his intended destination instead of attempting a direct water approach.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident included the turbulent crosswind conditions present during the landing phase. The mechanical outcome was severe structural damage resulting from the cartwheeling event. The pilot's post-accident assessment highlighted that alternative landing procedures could have mitigated the risk of such a violent impact.
Safety message
This incident underscores the importance of assessing weather conditions and harbor accessibility before attempting water landings. Pilots should consider whether taxiing to a destination after landing in safer, open water might be a more prudent course of action than navigating complex harbor environments under turbulent conditions.