What happened
Following its departure from the bay area of Avalon, a twin engine seaplane experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The aircraft descended into the ocean during its initial climb phase. The accident resulted in one fatality among the passengers and left three other people on board with various injuries, including the pilot who sustained serious harm.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified an airframe failure as the primary reason for the loss of control during the ascent. Specifically, the elevator tab control system ceased to function correctly. Technical analysis revealed that a fatigue fracture had occurred, causing the up elevator cable to detach approximately 3 to 4 feet in front of station 29. The report also noted that the incident was exacerbated by insufficient inspection and maintenance procedures.