What happened
On 7th January 2026, a Cessna 208 amphibian aircraft, registration 4R-CAE, was conducting a domestic commercial flight from Bandaranaike International Airport to Gregory Lake. The flight, operated by Saffron Aviation (Pvt) Ltd, was flying under visual meteorological conditions.
As the aircraft approached the lake, the pilot encountered gusty crosswind conditions. During the landing sequence, the aircraft made abrupt contact with the water, which caused a pitch-down motion. Upon touchdown, the pilot engaged reverse thrust, but the aircraft subsequently lost directional control and began veering toward the shoreline with a porpoising motion. In an attempt to recover, the pilot initiated a go-around by applying power and banking to the right. However, the aircraft failed to maintain aerodynamic stability, causing the right wing to strike the water surface. The aircraft then impacted the lake, causing significant structural damage to the wings, engine, and fuselage. There were no fatalities and no passengers were on board; both crew members evacuated safely.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's handling during the landing and go-around phases, specifically focusing on the impact of the gusty winds and the aircraft's stability. Investigators analyzed the physical damage to the airframe, noting that the deformation of the propeller and engine mount was consistent with power being applied during the impact. The study also reviewed the operational environment of Gregory Lake, the pilot's decision-making under time pressure, and the effectiveness of the operator's water landing procedures and training context.