Accident Overview
A pilot and an observer were conducting a fish spotting mission when the airplane entered a spin and subsequently impacted the water. Witnesses on a boat reported observing the airplane maneuver before it entered the spin. The pilot was unable to recover the aircraft before impact.
Post-Accident Findings
The bodies of the two occupants were discovered several weeks after the accident. A toxicological analysis of the pilot's blood revealed an ethanol level of 34 mg/mL (0.034%). However, no alcohol was detected in the pilot's urine, and the blood alcohol was attributed to putrefaction rather than ingestion.
Pilot Certification
The owner of the aircraft stated that the pilot held a student pilot certificate and was endorsed for cross-country flight. However, a search of FAA airman and medical records found no current student pilot certificate or medical certificate on file for the pilot.