What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During takeoff run, pilot stated that he had the aircraft on the "step" (sea plane) and that when he moved the controls to take the right float off the water the front seat passenger legs interfered with the controls so as not to allow the pilot to move the controls back to the right so that he would be able to stop the ensuing turn to the left. Left wing impacted the water, aircraft flipped over and sank inverted. All occupants swam away from the aircraft. This aircraft was returning from a fishing trip and was fully loaded with baggage and three occupants. The passenger in the front right seat was the tallest of the three at about 6'4". This aircraft has provisions for hydraulic skis. The hydraulic actuator was still installed in the cockpit on the floor just aft of the left rudder pedal on the right side.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING TAKEOFF RUN, PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD THE AIRCRAFT ON THE "STEP" (SEA PLANE) AND THAT WHEN HE MOVED THE CONTROLS TO TAKE THE RIGHT FLOAT OFF THE WATER THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER LEGS INTERFERED WITH THE CONTROLS SO AS NOT TO ALLOW THE PILOT TO MOVE THE CONTROLS BACK TO THE RIGHT SO THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP THE ENSUING TURN TO THE LEFT. LEFT WING IMPACTED THE WATER, AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND SANK INVERTED. ALL OCCUPANTS SWAM AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING FROM A FISHING TRIP AND WAS FULLY LOADED WITH BAGGAGE AND THREE OCCUPANTS. THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT WAS THE TALLEST OF THE THREE AT ABOUT 6'4". THIS AIRCRAFT HAS PROVISIONS FOR HYDRAULIC SKIS. THE HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR WAS STILL INSTALLED IN THE COCKPIT ON THE FLOOR JUST AFT OF THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.