Accident Overview
A witness-observed flight over a lake ended when the aircraft collided with the water after attempting a loop maneuver. The pilot was found with injuries consistent with actively operating the controls at the time of the accident.
Witness Observations
Multiple witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying south to north across the lake at an altitude of approximately 30 feet. The aircraft then climbed slightly to clear a bridge crossing the lake, after which it descended back to about 30 feet above the water surface. From that altitude, the aircraft initiated a loop maneuver.
Sequence of Events
According to witness accounts, the loop was not completed. During the maneuver, the aircraft struck the lake in a nose-down attitude. The impact occurred before the loop could be finished. No information is available regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, date, time of day, weather conditions, or ATC involvement.
Pilot Injuries
The pilot, the sole occupant reported, sustained injuries to their legs and hands. These injuries were described as being consistent with the pilot operating the aircraft at the time of the accident.