Accident Overview
The accident occurred when a pilot attempted to land on a lake after a period of not having flown the make and model of airplane for eight months. According to Civil Air Patrol (CAP) regulations, a flight instructor was required to accompany the pilot for water landings after such a lapse in flight time. The pilot had called to reserve the airplane and provided the name of an instructor who was supposed to accompany him during the flight.
Takeoff and Landing Attempts
Witnesses observed the airplane land on the lake earlier and then make an aborted takeoff attempt. A second takeoff was successful, and the pilot left the local area. The accident occurred during the pilot's return landing. One witness was surprised to see the airplane attempting to land in that area of the lake, as it was not a typical landing site. The witness noted strong winds blowing in the direction of the intended landing, with waves of 2 to 3 feet caused by the wind.
Accident Sequence
The witness watched the airplane hit the water hard and bounce approximately 10 to 15 feet upward. The engine then went to full power, at which point the tail of the airplane struck the water. The nose pitched forward, and the airplane "pile drived" itself into the water. The aircraft flipped over and floated inverted for about 10 minutes. By the time the witness reached the airplane in his boat, it had already submerged and was sinking rapidly.
Pilot Recovery
The pilot, who was a nonswimmer, was recovered later that day from inside the airplane. He was not wearing any personal flotation devices. The cause of death was attributed to drowning.