What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft outfitted with floats, was mounted on a dolly while being towed behind a pickup truck for the purpose of takeoff. According to the pickup truck driver, who is also a highly qualified pilot. The pilot of the float plane attemted to rotate off the dolly at approximately 50 mph instead of the usual 50-70 mph. The pilot also appears to have over-rotated and entered a stall approximately 75-100 feet AGL, with a subsequent impact into the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT OUTFITTED WITH FLOATS, WAS MOUNTED ON A DOLLY WHILE BEING TOWED BEHIND A PICKUP TRUCK FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE PICKUP TRUCK DRIVER, WHO IS ALSO A HIGHLY QUALIFIED PILOT. THE PILOT OF THE FLOAT PLANE ATTEMTED TO ROTATE OFF THE DOLLY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 50-70 MPH. THE PILOT ALSO APPEARS TO HAVE OVER-ROTATED AND ENTERED A STALL APPROXIMATELY 75-100 FEET AGL, WITH A SUBSEQUENT IMPACT INTO THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.