What happened
The flight was conducted for the purpose of mapping the coastline. Before departure, the pilot and passenger established specific flight parameters, agreeing to maintain an altitude of 400 feet AGL and an airspeed of 75 mph.
During the mission, the passenger identified a missed area and requested that the pilot turn the aircraft around. The pilot acknowledged the request and initiated an approximate 15-degree left turn toward the terrain. According to the passenger, the pilot did not apply power at the start of this maneuver.
While flying between two small hills, the aircraft encountered light turbulence. Following this, the right wing suddenly raised and the nose dropped toward the ground. Although the pilot applied full power at that moment, the aircraft continued in a left descending turn and collided into the water just off shore. There were no reported fatalities.
The investigation
A post-crash investigation of the aircraft revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions. Records indicated that during the 90 days preceding the accident, the pilot had logged a total of 279 hours, all in floatplanes, including three hours in a Cessna 185.