What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
privacy data omitted, Pilot in command and holder of air tour operator letter of authorization, landed on the peace river near Arcadia Florida to have lunch at the navigator restaurant. privacy data omitted Arranged an air tour flight with four passengers from the restaurant. Shortly after take off, approximately 400 feet AGL, privacy data omitted stated that the tone of the engine changed. He does not recall if the manifold pressure and/or propellor RPM dropped, however, the aircraft began to lose airspeed and altitude. He attempted to land on the river, however was unable to find a long enough straight section. Attempted to land in an open area, however, was unable to clear the tree line on the edge of the open area. The impact of the crash forced the aircraft floats to jam both the pilot and co-pilot doors. A fire started in the engine compartment upon impact. The pilot and passengers exited the aircraft from the co-pilot window. All aircraft occupants were taken by ambulance to two port charlotte hospitals and released with minor injuries later that night.
As the FAA filed it
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, PILOT IN COMMAND AND HOLDER OF AIR TOUR OPERATOR LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION, LANDED ON THE PEACE RIVER NEAR ARCADIA FLORIDA TO HAVE LUNCH AT THE NAVIGATOR RESTAURANT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ARRANGED AN AIR TOUR FLIGHT WITH FOUR PASSENGERS FROM THE RESTAURANT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THE TONE OF THE ENGINE CHANGED. HE DOES NOT RECALL IF THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE AND/OR PROPELLOR RPM DROPPED, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE RIVER, HOWEVER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A LONG ENOUGH STRAIGHT SECTION. ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN AREA, HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREE LINE ON THE EDGE OF THE OPEN AREA. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH FORCED THE AIRCRAFT FLOATS TO JAM BOTH THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT DOORS. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UPON IMPACT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE CO-PILOT WINDOW.ALL AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO TWO PORT CHARLOTTE HOSPITALS AND RELEASED WITH MINOR INJURIES LATER THAT NIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.