Accident Narrative
A pilot was repositioning a floatplane from a land-based airport to a seaplane base using a dolly. The takeoff was performed with the floatplane mounted on a dolly towed by a pickup truck via a 60-foot rope. The pilot reported that the tow vehicle accelerated to flying speed, but he rotated the aircraft prematurely. As a result, the airplane did not achieve sufficient airspeed for the pilot to maintain control.
After rotation, the floatplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 60 feet, at which point it stalled and subsequently impacted the ground. The accident caused substantial damage to the wings and the firewall of the aircraft.
Environmental Conditions
A nearby weather station located three miles west of the accident airport recorded wind conditions around the time of the accident as variable at 5 knots.
Pilot and Mechanical Report
The pilot stated that the engine was operating properly throughout the event and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. No other factors were identified by the pilot as contributing to the accident.