What happened
The pilot was conducting commercial rides in a vintage Piper J3 equipped with floats, operating from the Colorado River near an island adjacent to a residential area. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at altitudes between 40 and 50 feet along the river corridor. The standard procedure involved pulling the nose up to reverse direction, executing a 180-degree turn, and leveling out just above the water surface. During one such course reversal at low altitude, the airplane descended into the river.
The investigation
Investigation of the incident focused on the operational environment and witness accounts. Reports indicated that warm temperatures and gusty winds were present during the flight. These atmospheric conditions likely contributed to the aircraft's inability to maintain safe clearance from the water surface during the low-altitude maneuver.