Accident Details
A certificated commercial pilot was departing from a river after a day of fishing. According to the pilot's report, shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of about 15 feet above the water, two ducks flew into the path of the departing airplane. The pilot's attention was distracted by the birds. The ducks passed on the right side of the airplane, approximately 6 feet from the windscreen.
The next thing the pilot recalled was seeing trees that filled his entire field of view. The airplane's left wing sponson collided with a stand of trees. The impact pivoted the airplane 180 degrees to the left, and the airplane then settled into a larger stand of trees.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage as a result of the collision with the trees.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a certificated commercial pilot. The flight was a personal trip following a day of fishing. No other details about the pilot or the flight's origin or destination were provided.