What happened
During a training flight involving a seaplane, the pilot receiving instruction attempted a water landing but failed to secure a proper touchdown point. The maneuver resulted in a bounced landing rather than a controlled stop on the water's surface.
The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) onboard noted that he did not initiate a go-around procedure in sufficient time to prevent further complications. This delay allowed the aircraft to continue its descent path toward obstacles. Consequently, the seaplane experienced an in-flight collision with trees and water before ultimately nosing down into the water.
The investigation
Post-incident analysis focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase. Investigators examined the timing of the go-around decision relative to the bounced landing. The mechanical condition of the seaplane was reviewed to rule out pre-existing failures, though the primary focus remained on the operational errors during the approach.
Findings
The accident was attributed to two primary factors:
- The pilot receiving instruction did not obtain the proper touch down point during the water landing.
- The CFI failed to initiate a go-around in sufficient time to avoid the collision with trees and subsequent nose-down impact.
These actions resulted in an in-flight collision with trees, water, and a subsequent nose down of the seaplane in the water.