On June 20, 1988, a DE Havilland DHC2-MK I (registration N49771) operated by Warroad Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Warroad, MN. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot landed a seaplane on a lake about 1,000 yards from the seaplane base and attempted a step-taxi back when the aircraft struck a sand bar, causing it to nose over inverted.
Incident Overview
A seaplane pilot made a landing on a lake approximately 1,000 yards from the intended seaplane base. After landing, the pilot decided to execute a step-taxi maneuver to return to the base. During the taxi, the aircraft collided with a submerged sand bar.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he was taxiing near an area of tall grass where he believed the water depth was sufficient for taxiing. The pilot did not observe the sand bar before beginning the taxi maneuver. The aircraft struck the sand bar, resulting in the nose of the aircraft pitching downward until the aircraft became inverted in the water.
Aftermath
The aircraft came to rest in an inverted attitude in the lake following the impact with the sand bar. No further details about the aircraft's condition or subsequent recovery were provided.