Incident Overview
On the afternoon of the incident, neighbors of a pilot who maintained a residence on a small island in a remote lake observed the pilot repairing a hole in one of the floats of his float-equipped airplane. At approximately 1500, the neighbors heard an airplane engine start, but they did not see the airplane depart.
Discovery of the Airplane
At about 1720, an airplane flying over the lake spotted the accident airplane partially submerged in the water. The airplane was floating upside down approximately half a mile from the pilot's residence. Search personnel were dispatched to the location and found the airplane partially submerged. Several of the pilot's neighbors had already gathered at the scene.
Rescue Efforts
Rescue divers were unable to determine whether the airplane was occupied before it sank in 139 feet of water. The pilot remains missing and is presumed to be fatally injured.
Investigation Status
No probable cause has been determined at this time. The investigation is ongoing.