Accident Overview
A solo private pilot was departing in a float-equipped airplane for a flight over an area of open ocean water. During a phone interview the day after the accident, the pilot reported that just after takeoff, while crossing a 1-mile wide channel of open water, he encountered a fog bank. He noted that the ocean water was "as smooth as glass." As the flight progressed, visibility deteriorated to a point that he elected to turn around. During a left 180-degree turn, the airplane descended, collided with the ocean, broke apart, and sank.
Pilot Account
In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot said that he suspected that the floats of the airplane had been sabotaged, which allowed water to enter the floats. This, in his view, extended the airplane's takeoff roll and precipitated his encounter with the fog bank.
Witness Account
A witness who could hear, but not see, the accident airplane's takeoff provided a written statement to the NTSB. The witness wrote, in part: "The fog at that time was so heavy and so thick that our dock, which is about 75 feet from where I was standing, was a slight shadow. It would have been zero visibility."
Wreckage
The airplane wreckage sank in ocean waters estimated to be between 150 to 250 feet deep and has not been recovered.