Accident Overview
An amphibian airplane experienced a loss of its right wing pontoon during a landing on a lake, resulting in the aircraft sinking. The pilot, who held a single-engine sea rating and had accumulated 4,360 total flight hours, including 21 hours in the make and model, reported that the airplane was properly configured for a water landing: landing gear retracted and flaps extended. The approach was normal, but upon touchdown, the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a lateral force in the cockpit. He subsequently observed that the right wing pontoon had separated.
Rescue and Witness Accounts
The pilot exited the cockpit before the airplane sank. Two witnesses in a nearby boat rescued the pilot. According to the witnesses, the pilot commented that it was only his fourth landing on the water and that the calm water conditions could affect depth perception. The witnesses added that the right wing pontoon contacted the water first, which caused the airplane to spin.
Wreckage and Recovery
The airplane sank in a lake area approximately 120 feet deep. As of 60 days after the accident, the wreckage had not been located or recovered, though the right pontoon was recovered. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, operator, or date were provided in the source.