What happened
A float-equipped amphibious aircraft was returning to a lodge on a remote lake after a supply run. The flight had originated from a paved runway at an airport. During the en route phase, the pilot observed that the aircraft was unable to maintain its normal cruise attitude and airspeed. Suspecting the aircraft was tail-heavy, the pilot instructed the passenger in the aft cabin to move forward.
Upon touchdown on the lake, the aircraft nosed down into the water. Because the supplies in the aft cabin were not secured, they shifted forward during the impact, pinning both the pilot and the front seat passenger against the instrument panel. The aft cabin passenger attempted to lift the supplies to free the occupants before exiting the sinking aircraft. While both the front seat passenger and the pilot managed to exit the submerged airplane under their own power, the pilot failed to reach the surface. An autopsy later confirmed that the pilot died from drowning.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the landing gear wheels had not been retracted following takeoff from the paved runway. As a result, the aircraft landed on the water with the wheels fully extended. Additionally, testimony from the front seat passenger indicated that the pilot did not utilize a checklist prior to the landing.