What happened
The aircraft was conducting a training flight over Guanabara Bay, which involved a series of approaches and landings. During one of these approaches, the seaplane struck the water surface while maintaining a nose-down attitude. The impact caused the aircraft to overturn and subsequently sink into the bay. Emergency responders successfully rescued all four members of the crew from the water.
Findings
The official investigation identified specific operational errors as the primary causes of the accident. The crew failed to establish the correct configuration for the approach, which was a significant contributing factor. Additionally, the pilot-in-command made poor judgments regarding the landing technique. Environmental conditions also played a role; the glassy state of the water surface was cited as a contributory element that likely affected the crew's perception and control during the critical phase of flight.