Accident Details
A pilot was attempting to take off from a remote lake in a floatplane when the accident occurred. During the initial water run, the hydraulically actuated flaps were retracted from the fully extended (takeoff) position to the half-extended position. The airplane came 'on step' normally, and the pilot then attempted to pump the flaps to the fully extended position. However, the airplane did not become airborne.
Pilot Account
The pilot realized that the flap selector handle was in the 'up' position rather than the 'down' position. The airplane subsequently struck a four-foot-high bank at the end of the lake, causing the floats to separate from the aircraft. Initially, the pilot indicated that he had forgotten to switch the flap selector handle to the 'down' position. Later, he stated that he thought he had positioned it correctly but that his shirt sleeve may have snagged the handle and repositioned it.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge interviewed the pilot regarding the sequence of events. The specific aircraft type, registration, and other details were not disclosed in the initial report.