Accident Details
The airplane sustained substantial damage after impacting trees during initial climb. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he aborted two takeoffs before the accident flight. He stated, "This time I changed my route to get a longer run (3). I step taxied to the southwest corner of the lake accelerating to the east and departed to the north to maximize the length of my takeoff run. This time I lifted off cleanly with good airspeed. Initially I climbed well, but after a bit my climb rate slowed. At a point several hundred yards from shore I realized I may not clear the trees. I did not feel I had enough room to safely turn the aircraft back, so I elected to maintain my direction and increase my angle of attack little by little to try to clear the trees and keep the aircraft flying. I cleared the first row of trees, but dragged my left float through a tree top at which point the aircraft stalled falling off to the left, striking a tree with my left float. The aircraft slide down this same tree coming to rest at its base."
Additional Information
The pilot stated that there was no "mechanical malfunction failure" on his statement. At 2055, density altitude was 3,705 feet above mean sea level. The pilot did not perform a density altitude calculation prior to the accident flight. In his safety recommendation, the pilot noted, "Less weight, cooler outside temp, better wind."
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.