What happened
A scheduled commuter flight was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when it departed from a floatplane base, traveling northwest along a saltwater strait. While maintaining a low altitude over the water, the aircraft encountered a sudden snow squall approximately two miles northwest of the airport.
In an attempt to reverse direction following the weather encounter, the pilot initiated a steep turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost control and struck the surface of the water before sinking to a depth of 167 feet. Search and rescue operations were conducted for four days before being officially suspended.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors involving the flight crew's actions and environmental conditions:
- The pilot inadvertently entered Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions while flying under VFR.
- An inadvertent stall occurred during the aircraft's attempt to turn back.
- The maneuver performed by the pilot was determined to be excessive.
- Poor weather evaluation and the presence of snow significantly contributed to the loss of control.