What happened
The accident occurred while the airplane was operating at its maximum gross weight limit. The flight originated from a lake situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet mean sea level. Conditions during the departure included variable winds blowing at 15 knots with gusts reaching 25 knots.
Following the initial climb, the pilot initiated the retraction of the flaps once the airspeed indicated 75 mph. Shortly after this action, the airspeed decreased rapidly to 40 mph. The aircraft subsequently stalled at an altitude of approximately 50 to 60 feet above ground level. Following the stall, the airplane descended directly into the water.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight dynamics during the takeoff phase. The pilot reported the specific airspeed values and the timing of the flap retraction relative to the stall event. No mechanical failures were identified that would have prevented normal operation.