Accident Overview
An amphibious Republic RC-3 Seabee aircraft crashed into Discovery Bay shortly after departing from Port Angeles, Washington, en route to Corvallis, Oregon. The flight was intended to include practice landings. The pilot-in-command (PIC), who had accumulated approximately 1,100 hours of flight time, had just purchased the aircraft and had no prior experience flying amphibious or floatplanes. A flight instructor with 4,664 hours of experience was serving as a safety pilot.
Witness Observations
Witnesses observed the aircraft in a smooth, descending right turn, aligning to the north over the south end of Discovery Bay. The aircraft was heading toward 50-foot power lines crossing the bay from east to west. Just short of the power lines, the aircraft executed a sharp 90-degree left turn, then descended out of control to the water. After impacting the water, it bounced into the air and then struck the water again in a steep, nose-down attitude. A pilot who landed a floatplane near the accident site immediately after the crash reported gusty windy conditions.
Post-Crash Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of airframe or powerplant malfunction. The forward fuselage crush angles indicated a nose-low, left-wing-low attitude upon water impact, consistent with a stall condition.