What happened
The incident involved a seaplane conducting a maritime patrol mission out of Sitka. At the time of the accident, there were four passengers and seven crew members aboard the aircraft. During the takeoff sequence from the Sitka harbor, the plane encountered heavy swells which caused it to bounce. The pilot attempted to lift off while the aircraft's speed was insufficient for safe flight.
Shortly after leaving the water surface, the seaplane stalled at an altitude of approximately 30 feet. It subsequently crashed into the bay. Despite the impact and the subsequent drift onto rocks where the airframe was destroyed, all eleven individuals on board managed to escape unhurt.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the aircraft stalling during takeoff due to insufficient speed. This condition was exacerbated by the heavy swells in the harbor that caused the plane to bounce before liftoff.