What happened
Shortly after departing from a river, the aircraft ascended to an altitude between 100 and 400 feet above the water surface. During this climb, the aircraft began a left-hand turn with a bank angle of roughly 45 degrees. Observers noted that once the aircraft had completed a turn of approximately 180 degrees, the nose of the plane suddenly dipped, leading to a direct impact with the water. No unusual engine noises or mechanical irregularities were noted by witnesses prior to the crash.
Upon hitting the water, the aircraft flipped upside down and the cabin was flooded. Although bystanders attempted to reach the cabin to assist those inside, the structural damage to the airframe prevented entry. Emergency divers later located the wreckage and discovered that all four fatalities had occurred due to drowning. While the two passengers in the rear seats were recovered without needing to unbuckle their restraints, the structural integrity of the cabin had been compromised.
Findings
Post-accident investigations of the wreckage revealed no evidence of engine failure or mechanical malfunctions occurring before the impact. However, the wreckage examination confirmed that the impact had caused significant structural damage. Specifically, one of the cabin entry doors was jammed shut, and the movement of both pilot-side doors was restricted by displaced aircraft components, which likely hindered rescue efforts.