What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) After takeoff from Catalina Airport (kavx) and departing downwind, the engine began to flutter with several metal to metal sounds and would not develop power and finally stopped. It was necessary to ditch aircraft in the ocean approximately 4 miles north of the coast. There were two passengers on board and there were no injuries. All occupants were rescued by a private boater. The aircraft was laying in approximately 35 feet of water upside down with substantial damage as reported by a diver.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AFTER TAKEOFF FROM CATALINA AIRPORT (KAVX) AND DEPARTING DOWNWIND, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FLUTTER WITH SEVERAL METAL TO METAL SOUNDS AND WOULD NOT DEVELOP POWER AND FINALLY STOPPED. IT WAS NECESSARY TO DITCH AIRCRAFT IN THE OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NORTH OF THE COAST. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED BY A PRIVATE BOATER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAYING IN APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET OF WATER UPSIDE DOWN WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS REPORTED BY A DIVER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.