What happened
The pilot operated an amphibious airplane that initially landed on a gravel runway situated next to a lake and seaplane base. Upon completing the ground landing, the pilot determined that fuel was not accessible at the runway but was only available at the adjacent dock. To reach the refueling point, the pilot initiated another takeoff from the gravel surface.
During the subsequent phase of flight, the pilot decided to land on the water rather than continuing to the dock or returning to the runway. The airplane touched down on the lake with the landing gear extended. According to the pilot's account, his attention was diverted by nearby boat traffic and the wakes generated by those vessels on the water surface.
The investigation
The available source material does not provide details regarding a mechanical examination of the aircraft or specific findings from an investigative team. The narrative relies entirely on the pilot's statement regarding the sequence of events and the reason for the diversion of attention during the water landing.