What happened
While operating en route, a single engine airplane encountered extremely low visibility conditions. The area was obscured by heavy smoke originating from a nearby forest fire, which significantly degraded the pilot's ability to navigate safely.
As the aircraft approached Elk Bay, the pilot attempted to land by descending to a lower altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck the water surface. The impact caused the plane to cartwheel across the water before eventually sinking beneath the surface.
Findings
All eight occupants on board successfully evacuated the wreckage and managed to reach the shoreline safely. Although the aircraft was a total loss, there were no fatalities reported in the incident. The primary factor contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility caused by smoke from forest fires.