What happened
An air taxi flight involving a passenger and a child ended in a terrain impact while departing from a seaplane base on a public lake. The flight was intended to transport passengers and cargo to a remote lakeside residence. During the loading process, an unexpected 800 lbs of mortar bags were added to the aircraft. Observers noted that the plane appeared heavily loaded toward the rear, and the pilot indicated a willingness to remove weight if takeoff became impossible.
Initial takeoff attempts were conducted using only a portion of the available waterway. After a step-taxi maneuver around the lake, a second takeoff attempt was made without utilizing the full length of the lake. The aircraft type managed to clear trees at the southern end of the lake but subsequently lost altitude. Surveillance footage indicated that the aircraft was traveling at approximately 64 mph, which was significantly lower than the standard climb speed of 80 mph, at an altitude of 115 ft agl. As the pilot initiated a left turn, the aircraft rolled through 90 degrees and impacted the ground. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries reported in the source.
Findings
Post-accident investigations confirmed that the engine was operating at near maximum continuous power and showed no signs of mechanical failure. However, calculations determined the aircraft type was approximately 75 lbs over its maximum allowable takeoff weight, with the center of gravity positioned 1.76 inches behind the rear limit.
- The aircraft's weight and balance were outside of approved limits.
- The excessive weight increased the stall speed and reduced climb performance.
- The pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack during a left turn, leading to an aerodynamic stall.
- The pilot had limited experience in this specific model, having completed only 13 sea operations in the aircraft type since being hired.