Cessna 180G | N4631U

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot elected to make a northerly takeoff during gusty and changing wind conditions, while in the close vicinity of known objects in the takeoff path. During takeoff, and past the point of an ability to abort, the aircraft was pushed into an object and overturned, trapping the pilot in the over turned aircraft. The passenger was able to egress and reached the shore, but was unable to free her husband from the submerged inverted aircraft.

The DTSB recommends that all pilot of all aircraft review the proposed takeoff path, and have a specific abort point in mind that will allow a safe deceleration if necessary. For pilots of seaplane aircraft, this is often very difficult to determine, but enough clearway should be present such that the takeoff can be rejected very early if the over all path and performance is not going to yield a guaranteed result.