What happened
On August 2, 2014, at approximately 11:16 AM, an ultralight amphibious aircraft, a SeaMax M-22 with registration OH-U526, crashed into the sea in Haukilahden, Espoo. The flight had originated from Tampere Pirkkala, with the pilot intending to land in Espoo to pick up a passenger before continuing to Hanko.
While approaching the landing area from the north, the pilot performed two counter-clockwise circuits at an altitude of approximately 150 meters. During the final approach, the pilot reduced speed and descended. At an altitude of roughly 25 meters, the pilot aborted the landing attempt and initiated a turn to execute a new approach. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a stall, subsequently entered a spin, and impacted the water nose-first.
Witnesses in a nearby kayak observed the accident. Although bystanders and rescuers attempted to assist, the pilot, a 38-year-old with approximately 550 flight hours, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.