What happened
The accident occurred during the landing phase of flight. The pilot was operating a seaplane and attempted to land on a body of water characterized by glassy conditions, which typically lack visual depth cues. During the final approach, the aircraft inadvertently became airborne after failing to remain on the step. This unintended climb-out was followed by a loss of depth perception for the pilot.
As the aircraft descended, the pilot failed to maintain a proper rate of descent. The resulting impact with the water surface was severe enough to cause structural failure. Specifically, the float landing gear collapsed upon contact due to the excessive vertical speed and hard landing forces.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site and circumstances revealed that the primary mechanical outcome was the collapse of the float landing gear. There were no indications of pre-impact mechanical failure in the aircraft systems. The investigation focused on the pilot's control inputs and the environmental conditions at the time of the event.
Findings
The investigation identified several critical factors contributing to the accident. The glassy water condition of the landing surface significantly reduced visual references, making it difficult for the pilot to judge altitude and descent rate accurately. This environmental factor combined with human error led to the loss of depth perception.
The pilot's failure to keep the aircraft on the step during the flare phase allowed the floatplane to become airborne unintentionally. Subsequently, the inability to maintain a proper rate of descent resulted in the hard landing. The collapse of the float landing gear was the direct physical consequence of these errors and conditions.
loss of depth perception was the pivotal cognitive error that prevented the pilot from executing a safe landing on the featureless water surface.