Accident Details
A floatplane operating a sightseeing flight crashed shortly after taking off from Lake Delton. The aircraft was used daily during the tourist season for flights approximately 15 minutes long. At the time of the accident, it was the 8th or 9th flight of the day and the 4th or 5th flight since refueling.
Witness Observations
A passenger and several witnesses on the ground believed the engine had lost power. However, a post-crash examination of the engine did not reveal any specific reason for the loss of power.
Maneuver and Impact
According to the survivors of the crash, the aircraft was over land when a sharp left turn was made back toward the water. During this turn, the aircraft struck trees and crashed approximately 40 feet from the shoreline.
Pilot Condition
An autopsy and toxicological tests of the pilot failed to reveal any inflight incapacitation.