What happened
On the morning of 24 May 2014, a Cessna 185E equipped with amphibious floats departed from Guelph Airpark, heading toward Taylor Lake, Ontario. The aircraft, registered as C-FYKU, was being operated by a single pilot. During the approach to the lake, the pilot attempted a landing on glassy water. During the process, the aircraft's floats caught the surface of the water, causing the pilot to lose control. The plane subsequently cartwheeled and submerged.
While the pilot survived the initial impact, the force of the accident caused damage to the fuselage and prevented the pilot's door from being opened. Trapped inside the sinking aircraft, the pilot was unable to escape and succumbed to drowning. The accident took place during daylight hours at approximately 0740 Eastern Daylight Time.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of control and the pilot's inability to egress the submerged aircraft. The investigation looked into the functionality of the aircraft's emergency equipment, noting that while the emergency locator transmitter activated following the impact, it failed to transmit a signal because the antenna was underwater. The probe also assessed the pilot's proficiency and training regarding emergency exits.