What happened
On June 2, 2018, at approximately 14:25 local time, a Catalina NG seaplane, registration F-JBRR, was performing a landing on a lake near Hergiswil, Switzerland. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for a private flight, departing from and returning to Hergiswil. During the landing phase, the aircraft struck an object located beneath the water's surface. The impact caused a breach in the fuselage, measuring approximately 27 cm by 17 cm. Following the collision, the aircraft rapidly accumulated water and sank until the water level reached the wing surfaces.
The investigation
Investigators established that the aircraft was being operated privately. The impact with the submerged object was the direct cause of the hull breach. Following the incident, the pilot and one passenger were successfully rescued by lake rescue services. The aircraft was subsequently recovered and towed to the slipway at Stansstad.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a collision with a submerged object during the landing maneuver.
- The impact resulted in two individuals sustaining light injuries.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage due to the hull breach and subsequent flooding.