What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Floatplane lost control maneuvering to land after indicated power loss circling lake. Impacted trees. (-23) aircraft made 2 small circle patterns over a pontoon on Cedar Lake. Acft then headed north losing altitude, hitting trees approx 1/8 mile n of lake. Floats were broken off approx 18-24" from leading end indicating acft impacted ground at steep angle, hitting some smaller trees. Tail remained relatively undamaged. Cast u-beam float mount was snapped cleanly off. Ins. Investigator stated engine had seized, possibly before impact. Gas tanks still contained fuel. Weather did not appear to be a factor. Wind was ese @ 10, gusts to 16 knots.
As the FAA filed it
FLOATPLANE LOST CONTROL MANEUVERING TO LAND AFTER INDICATED POWER LOSS CIRCLING LAKE. IMPACTED TREES. (-23) AIRCRAFT MADE 2 SMALL CIRCLE PATTERNS OVER A PONTOON ON CEDAR LAKE. ACFT THEN HEADED NORTH LOSING ALTITUDE, HITTING TREES APPROX 1/8 MILE N OF LAKE. FLOATS WERE BROKEN OFF APPROX 18-24" FROM LEADING END INDICATING ACFT IMPACTED GROUND AT STEEP ANGLE, HITTING SOME SMALLER TREES. TAIL REMAINED RELATIVELY UNDAMAGED. CAST U-BEAM FLOAT MOUNT WAS SNAPPED CLEANLY OFF. INS. INVESTIGATOR STATED ENGINE HAD SEIZED, POSSIBLY BEFORE IMPACT. GAS TANKS STILL CONTAINED FUEL. WEATHER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR. WIND WAS ESE @ 10, GUSTS TO 16 KNOTS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.