What happened
The incident occurred while the crew was conducting a training exercise in the region of Colón. During the descent toward Manzanillo Bay, located off Coco Solo NAS, the aircraft initiated its final approach. The pilot engaged the approach lights and reduced engine power to half throttle, maintaining an attitude that appeared nearly normal for landing. However, the seaplane struck the water surface prematurely. Upon impact, the aircraft came to a halt and subsequently sank.
The accident resulted in five fatalities among the crew members, while four others sustained injuries. The flight was part of routine operational training, with no indication of mechanical failure prior to the impact.
Findings
Investigations indicated that the primary contributing factor was a misjudgment of the distance between the aircraft and the water surface. The conditions at the time featured a glassy water surface, which likely created an optical illusion that distorted the crew's perception of altitude. This visual distortion was exacerbated by the approach lights, which appeared to penetrate the water without providing clear reference points for position or height. Consequently, the crew developed a false conception of their actual altitude, leading to the premature impact with the sea.