What happened
The incident occurred during a maritime patrol departure from Key West-Boca Chica Field NAS. The aircraft initiated its takeoff roll in light crosswind conditions. As the seaplane accelerated, the pilot executed a slight turn to avoid nearby obstructions. During this maneuver, the aircraft began to skid toward the right side. In an attempt to arrest the slide and lift the hull off the water surface, the pilot induced a stall.
The violent interaction with the water caused spray to shatter the starboard windshield, creating disorientation within the cockpit. As the aircraft appeared to become uncontrollable, the engines were throttled back. The right wingtip float struck the water with significant force, leading to immediate structural collapse. The hull fractured vertically along the port side, extending from the keel to the top of the fuselage. Concurrently, the wing shifted forward and downward while rotating slightly clockwise. This movement drove the port propeller into the cockpit area and tore a large hole in the mechanics compartment. The damaged seaplane sank rapidly in approximately three meters of shallow water.
Findings
The accident resulted in two fatalities, including the pilot, and left eight other crew members injured. The sequence of events was triggered by the skid during the takeoff phase, which led to the structural failure and subsequent sinking.