What happened
During a takeoff attempt from a lake, a Cessna (type not specified) failed to climb out of the end of a cove. In response to the lack of altitude, the pilot reduced power and initiated a turn to land in a nearby bog/swamp.
During the landing approach into the swamp, the left wing strut struck a tree. The aircraft subsequently landed hard on its floats, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures experienced during the flight. Prior to the accident, the pilot had completed five hours of flight time in the same make and model of aircraft within the 24 hours preceding the event.