What happened
During a routine local training mission departing from the Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed Air Force Base, a seaplane experienced a sudden loss of control. While the aircraft was maintaining a cruising altitude of approximately 300 feet, it suddenly pitched forward into a nose-down attitude. This maneuver caused the plane to strike the surface of Lake Bizerte and submerge to a depth of seven meters.
The accident resulted in seven fatalities among the crew members on board. Only one member of the flight crew was successfully rescued from the wreckage. Although recovery efforts were able to retrieve the aircraft from the lake bed, the vessel was found to be completely destroyed.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a steep dive while flying at low altitude.
- The impact with the water led to the immediate sinking of the airframe.