Incident Overview
A pilot reported that after departing for a local flight, he proceeded to a nearby lake to practice water takeoffs and landings. Following a landing, the water conditions became too rough to safely take off. The pilot elected to water taxi to a bay area near an island in search of smoother conditions.
Collision with Submerged Object
As the pilot crossed near the southern tip of the island, the airplane struck a submerged object. The pilot estimated the airplane's speed at the time as approximately 6 miles per hour. He immediately steered the airplane toward deeper water; however, after about 3 minutes, his feet became submerged under water.
Post-Collision Actions
The pilot subsequently taxied the airplane into water about 3 feet deep, where it came to rest with the landing gear extended. He noted that the airplane normally sat about 18 inches deep in the water. According to the pilot, the depth finder did not alert him to the presence of the submerged object prior to the collision.
Aircraft Damage
The specific damage to the aircraft was not detailed in the report, but the aircraft came to rest in shallow water with the landing gear down.