What happened
During an attempt to depart from a lake situated in the vicinity of Port Moller, a seaplane experienced a significant loss of control. As the aircraft accelerated along the water's surface, the left wing float remained submerged, preventing the plane from achieving stable flight. This imbalance caused the aircraft to plunge into the water.
Despite the impact, all three occupants managed to exit the wreckage without life-threatening harm, sustaining only minor injuries. The aircraft itself was determined to be a total loss following the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the wingtip was dragged through the water during the takeoff run. This was attributed to the improper use of flight controls or brakes during the initial phase of flight. Several contributing elements were noted by investigators, including:
- The pilot did not initiate an aborted takeoff once the imbalance was apparent.
- The person in command had only 33 hours of experience in this specific aircraft type.
- A lack of familiarity with the aircraft's handling characteristics.
- Environmental factors related to the open water conditions of the lagoon.