What happened
An on-demand air taxi flight departed from a remote, oceanside lagoon in a float-equipped airplane carrying a pilot and three passengers. The departure occurred during conditions of heavy rain and reduced visibility. After the aircraft failed to arrive at its intended destination, the operator notified authorities that the flight was overdue.
Following the report, search-and-rescue teams conducted extensive operations covering both inland areas and the coastline. While the primary wreckage and the engine remained unlocated despite the use of sonar in nearby ocean waters, small fragments of the aircraft eventually washed ashore approximately 28 miles northeast of the departure point. Along with the aircraft debris, a duffel bag and a stowed tent were recovered near the shoreline.
Findings
Investigation of the recovered items, specifically the tent and duffel bag, revealed evidence of exposure to high temperatures. However, investigators found no evidence to suggest that a fire occurred while the aircraft was in flight. The lack of soot on undamaged sections of the gear, combined with a sharp demarcation line between damaged and undamaged material, suggests the items were likely floating on the water's surface when they were exposed to a fuel fire.
Due to the highly fragmented state of the recovered debris, investigators believe the aircraft likely struck the ocean surface during flight. However, because the engine and the bulk of the wreckage have not been recovered, the specific sequence of events leading to the impact remains undetermined.