Flight and Weather Conditions
The pilot reported that the accident flight was his fourth flight and the third tour flight of the day in a float-equipped airplane. Weather had deteriorated throughout the day with lowering ceilings, light rain, and fog on the mountain ridges. A passenger reported that the weather at the time consisted of tufts of low clouds and good visibility, and they did not enter clouds at any point during the flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot said that when approaching a mountain pass, he initiated a climb by adding a small amount of flap (about one pump of the flap handle actuator) without adjusting the engine power from the cruise setting. He observed an airspeed of 80 knots and a climb rate of 200 feet per minute on the vertical speed indicator. Due to the nose-high attitude, he had difficulty seeing over the cowling and suddenly noticed trees in his flight path. He began an immediate left turn; the airplane stalled, started to descend, and then struck the mountainous, tree-covered terrain.
Passenger Report
A passenger reported that the airplane entered a left turn, stalled, and then made a sharp left turn just before impact. The airplane appeared to be operating normally, and the passenger heard no unusual sounds, except that the engine speed seemed to increase noticeably just before impact.
Aircraft Examination
The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. A postaccident inspection of the airframe and engine found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.