Incident Overview
A weight-shift control aircraft was being flown over a river with a passenger taking photographs. The pilot slowed the aircraft and descended near a bird's nest to allow the passenger to capture a photo. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall. The pilot immediately applied full engine power in an attempt to recover, but the aircraft continued to sink and subsequently impacted the river surface. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the flight was conducted over the river with the passenger photographing wildlife. The pilot stated that the aircraft stalled when he reduced speed and descended close to the bird's nest. After the stall, the pilot's application of full engine power did not prevent the aircraft from sinking into the river. The pilot and passenger both exited the aircraft after the impact and swam to the riverbank. The pilot further stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the aircraft or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage due to the impact with the water. No further details regarding specific damage items were provided in the source.