What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-4)The pilot stated that he was flying low over the lake, on a scenic ride. About 100 feet above the ground (AGL), the pilot initiated a climb to maintain separation from a snowmobile. After the snowmobile passed under the airplane, the pilot attempted to descend back to his original altitude. He thought he was 100 feet AGL, but the airplane impacted the snow covered lake. (-23) aircraft departed alton bay, NH VFR flew over lake winnipesaukee at a low altitude towards center harbor, NH. Turned towards laconia airport and struck frozen lake. Aircraft slid to a stop, minor injuries. Aircraft substantially damaged.
As the FAA filed it
(-4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING LOW OVER THE LAKE, ON A SCENIC RIDE. ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND (AGL), THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMB TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION FROM A SNOWMOBILE. AFTER THE SNOWMOBILE PASSED UNDER THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DESCEND BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL ALTITUDE. HE THOUGHT HE WAS 100 FEET AGL, BUT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE SNOW COVERED LAKE. (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ALTON BAY, NH VFR FLEW OVER LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE AT A LOW ALTITUDE TOWARDS CENTER HARBOR, NH. TURNED TOWARDS LACONIA AIRPORT AND STRUCK FROZEN LAKE. AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP, MINOR INJURIES. AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.