What happened
During a visual approach to the airport, the aircraft was performing a descent on the left base leg. While flying approximately 100 feet above the surface, the flight crew encountered instrument meteorological conditions that resulted in a total loss of forward visibility.
As the pilot attempted to monitor the aircraft's altitude by looking out the left side of the cockpit, the water surface appeared to be rising toward the plane at a high rate of speed. In an attempt to recover altitude, the pilot applied back pressure on the yoke to begin a climb. However, the nosewheel struck the water's surface, causing the aircraft to nosedive. The impact resulted in the plane flipping over and coming to a stop upside down in the water.
Findings
There were no reported mechanical issues or equipment failures prior to the accident that would have prevented the aircraft from operating normally. The primary factor in the accident was the sudden encounter with zero-visibility conditions while flying at a low altitude.