What happened
The aircraft departed from the airport while carrying a student pilot and passengers. Witnesses located at the airfield estimated the ceiling was between 150 and 300 feet overcast, with visibility ranging from one-eighth to one-quarter mile in fog. After lifting off, the aircraft entered the fog bank while executing a right climbing turn.
The aircraft reappeared over the runway, heading in the opposite direction at a very low altitude. Witnesses on a nearby beach, approximately half a mile from the airport, described the weather as poor and foggy. They observed the aircraft impact the water while in a right bank before disappearing beneath the surface.
The investigation
Mechanical examination of the engine-driven vacuum pump revealed it was inoperative at the time of takeoff. The drive shaft was sheared and showed considerable wear. Additionally, the pump vanes were excessively worn, with one vane jammed between the rotor and the case. A detailed inspection indicated the pump had been non-functional for some time prior to the accident.