What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Amphibious airplane lost power immediately after takeoff (less than 100 feet in altitude) from Lake Isabel, Washington. Engine continued to operate but produced about "two thirds" power at full throttle and would not maintain altitude. The lake elevation is approximately 2,850 feet. PIC elected to make a 180 degree turn since there were no suitable landing areas in front of the aircraft. After completing the turn (level flight) the airplane "lost lift" at approximately 35 feet above the lake. The aircraft hit the surface of the lake and damaged the floats. The aircraft immediately sank below the surface. Pilot and passenger were able to escape with minor injuries to the passenger. The estimated depth of the lake where the airplane sank is approximately 250 to 300 feet. It is yet to be decided whether to salvage the airplane or not.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AMPHIBIOUS AIRPLANE LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF (LESS THAN 100 FEET IN ALTITUDE) FROM LAKE ISABEL, WASHINGTON. ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE BUT PRODUCED ABOUT "TWO THIRDS" POWER AT FULL THROTTLE AND WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE LAKE ELEVATION IS APPROXIMATELY 2,850 FEET. PIC ELECTED TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN SINCE THERE WERE NO SUITABLE LANDING AREAS IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN (LEVEL FLIGHT) THE AIRPLANE "LOST LIFT" AT APPROXIMATELY 35 FEET ABOVE THE LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE SURFACE OF THE LAKE AND DAMAGED THE FLOATS. THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY SANK BELOW THE SURFACE. PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER. THE ESTIMATED DEPTH OF THE LAKE WHERE THE AIRPLANE SANK IS APPROXIMATELY 250 TO 300 FEET. IT IS YET TO BE DECIDED WHETHER TO SALVAGE THE AIRPLANE OR NOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.