Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, an amphibian aircraft was flying over Lynn Canal near Eldred Rock, approximately 65 miles north-northwest of Juneau, Alaska. At around 1525 local time, the aircraft descended from an established cruise altitude of about 200 feet into the glassy water surface while in cruising configuration. The impact caused major damage to the aircraft, which subsequently sank and was not recovered.
Injuries and Occupants
The aircraft was carrying eight passengers and a pilot. Six of the passengers and the pilot sustained serious injuries. One passenger died four days after the accident.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft at a safe altitude during marginal visual flight conditions. A contributing factor was the glassy water surface, which led the pilot to misjudge the height above the water.