What happened
The incident occurred during the initial phase of flight as the aircraft was attempting to depart from a body of water. As the seaplane accelerated along the surface, it struck an object that was submerged beneath the waterline. The impact was significant enough to penetrate the hull structure of the aircraft.
Following the collision, the structural integrity of the right pontoon was compromised. The force of the impact dislodged the right pontoon from the main fuselage. Without the support of both pontoons, the aircraft lost buoyancy and stability. It sank rapidly into the water, which was approximately four feet deep at the location of the accident. Despite the substantial damage to the airframe, the vessel did not capsize immediately.
Shortly after the aircraft settled on the bottom, a nearby boat responded to the situation. The crew of the assisting vessel approached the submerged seaplane and initiated recovery operations. They successfully towed the damaged aircraft from the water to the shore. All individuals aboard were extracted safely without medical attention required.