What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft departed the la porte, Texas, airport and, after a uneventful flight to the clearlake area of houston, executed a successful water landing with a short subsequent water taxi.
The PIC applied power for takeoff and then experienced surface vessel wake / swell turbulence. Having insufficient speed or power to counteract the physical forces of the wakes, the water forces heavily damaged the aircraft causing it to sink.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LA PORTE, TEXAS, AIRPORT AND, AFTER A UNEVENTFUL FLIGHT TO THE CLEARLAKE AREA OF HOUSTON, EXECUTED A SUCCESSFUL WATER LANDING WITH A SHORT SUBSEQUENT WATER TAXI.
THE PIC APPLIED POWER FOR TAKEOFF AND THEN EXPERIENCED SURFACE VESSEL WAKE / SWELL TURBULENCE. HAVING INSUFFICIENT SPEED OR POWER TO COUNTERACT THE PHYSICAL FORCES OF THE WAKES, THE WATER FORCES HEAVILY DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING IT TO SINK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.