What happened
The pilot initiated a water takeoff from a familiar area on the lake using two notches of flap. The takeoff run and liftoff point were described as routine, though not all available lake area was utilized for the maneuver. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was carrying approximately 75 gallons of fuel, a passenger, a fishing tackle box, and a small survival bag. Both the pilot and the passenger weighed under 175 pounds.
As the Cessna (registration not provided in source text, but implies a floatplane) climbed toward the height of the trees at a rapidly approaching shoreline, the pilot encountered a gust of wind. This gust required a momentary flight control input to counter, though the pilot noted there was no sensation of a downdraft. Shortly after this encounter, the pilot realized the aircraft did not have sufficient altitude to clear the trees.
Records indicated that prior to July 1993, the pilot's last flight in N93018 had occurred in June 1992. The pilot reported no difficulties with the engine or flight controls during the flight.