What happened
The student pilot and his non-pilot passenger, who was also his father, were conducting a flight along a saltwater beach. Their objective was to search for visual evidence of a recent oil spill. During this transit, the pilot noticed a fishing net in the water and decided to investigate it more closely.
To get a better view, the pilot executed two separate 180-degree turns. These maneuvers were performed at a very low altitude, specifically between 60 and 80 feet above ground level (AGL) directly over the net. During the second of these turning maneuvers, the aircraft lost airspeed and stalled. The loss of control resulted in the airplane striking the water surface.
The investigation
The physical examination of the wreckage confirmed that the aircraft had impacted the water. There were no mechanical failures reported prior to the impact. The flight path indicated a deliberate attempt by the pilot to reduce altitude for visual inspection purposes.