What happened
During a takeoff attempt from the Te Whanga Lagoon, a flying boat struck an uncharted reef located beneath the water's surface. The impact of the collision resulted in significant structural compromise to the vessel's hull.
Following the accident, the aircraft was deemed beyond economical repair. As a result, the crew abandoned the wreckage, which was subsequently dismantled at the site. There were 0 fatalities and no injuries reported among the occupants during the incident.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the collision with an uncharted submerged reef during the takeoff phase of flight.