What happened
During a takeoff attempt on Gander Lake in Newfoundland, a Gander Airways floatplane carrying a pilot and one passenger experienced a loss of control. As the aircraft taxied toward its takeoff position, it failed to reach sufficient speed to plane on the water's surface. Witnesses observed the aircraft being lifted from the lake in a nose-high attitude while experiencing semi-stalled conditions.
While maintaining an altitude of approximately 10 to 15 feet above the surface, the left wing dipped, causing the aircraft to enter a sideslip. The plane continued to descend until the wingtip made contact with the water. This impact caused the aircraft to cartwheel and become partially submerged. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatalities due to drowning.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that weather conditions were appropriate for flight, though the aircraft did not take off directly into the wind, which was blowing at 7 MPH. No mechanical failures involving the engine, controls, or the overall airframe were identified during inspections of the aircraft.
The investigation concluded that the crash was driven by poor pilot technique regarding stall management and a lack of proper judgment when attempting a maneuver at such a low altitude above the water.