Incident Details
The pilot of a float plane had landed on the Theodore River, which had a maximum width of about 90 feet and few straight runs longer than 400 feet. The river featured many sharp turns, some exceeding 150 degrees, and its depth was as low as 18 inches at low tide. The pilot elected to take off as the tide was receding, with the water flowing at 7 to 9 knots.
Pilot Actions
The pilot stated that he misjudged the speed of the river. While performing a step turn around a bend, the right wing contacted the river bank, causing the aircraft to turn over. When impact with the river bank became imminent, the pilot initiated a water loop in an attempt to prevent injuries.
Environmental Conditions
The Theodore River's narrow width, limited straight sections, sharp bends, and shallow depth at low tide, combined with a receding tide and strong current, created challenging conditions for takeoff. The water flow rate of 7 to 9 knots contributed to the difficulty in maneuvering the float plane.