ATL07LA089

According to witnesses, the airplane was seen flying at tree top level when the right wing struck a power line and caused the airplane to cartwheel into the canal. Examination of the airplane found no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunctions that would have prevented the airplane from operating properly.

On June 14, 2007, about 0945 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Sea Rey, amphibian airplane, N94GR, collided with power lines over the Highland View Canal near Port St. Joe, Florida. The certificated private pilot was killed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Costin Airport (A51), Port St Joe, Florida, about 0930, on the same day.

According to witnesses, the airplane was seen flying at tree top level. The airplane started following the canal and the right wing struck a power line that crossed over the canal. Two of the witnesses swam to the airplane, pulled the pilot out, and laid him on the wing until emergency medical services (EMS) arrived.

The pilot, age 62, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, and a third-class medical certificate issued on January 17, 2006, with a restriction that he must wear corrective lenses. The pilot reported on his application for the medical certificate that he had accumulated 2,152 total flight hours. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for review.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, found the wing center section partially separated and deformed. The fabric covering on both the left and right wings was ripped and torn away, exposing the internal structure of the wings. The left horizontal stabilizer sustained impact damage. Examination of the airplane found no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunctions.

An autopsy was performed on the pilot on January15, 2007, by the Office of the Medical Examiner District Fourteen, Panama City, Florida. The autopsy findings reported the cause of death as drowning, with contributory conditions as multiple blunt trauma.

Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated that no carbon monoxide, cyanide or ethanol was detected in blood or vitreous. No drugs were detected in urine.