THE DTSB
The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot failed to ensure that the landing gear was fully retracted for the intended water landing. It is surmised that the pilot likely became distracted by an unrelated abnormal that interrupted his normal water landing checklist, therefore never realizing that the landing gear was down, or possibly becoming confused and placing the gear down before landing. According to multiple witnesses, the amphibious float equipped airplane was seen approaching the lake from the northwest to land on the lake on a southeasterly heading. They reported that the approach appeared normal, however, the landing gear could be seen in the extended position. As the floats were about to touch down on the surface of the water, the airplane abruptly nosed over, and came to rest inverted, partially submerged within the lake. The pilot was both injured and trapped below water level and drowned before he could be rescued.