CEN12CA294

The pilot contacted his friend and told him to be at the beach and watch for the airplane. The friend reported that he saw the airplane make about three passes up and down the beach. On the third pass, the airplane made a steep left turn, which the friend believed resulted in a stall. The pilot reported that, as he arrived at the peninsula, he proceeded across the shoreline, crossed the beach, and dropped to an altitude of about 100 feet above ground level. He made a right turn, and then, after passing the bridge, he made a tight left turn and “felt a bump/drop, as if my left wing lost lift.” He leveled off, slightly nose high, and headed in an east to southeast direction. The pilot could not recall any further details of the accident. The airplane impacted just offshore in about 5 feet of water, and the forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. The airplane’s sudden wing drop is consistent with an aerodynamic stall.

The pilot contacted his friend and told him to be at the beach and watch for the airplane. The friend reported that he saw the airplane make about three passes up-and-down the beach. On the third pass he said the airplane made a steep left turn, which he believed resulted in a stall. The airplane impacted the water, just offshore. Several other witnesses responded and aided in removing the pilot from the airplane and water. The airplane’s forward fuselage was heavily damaged during the impact and came to rest in about 5 feet of water. The pilot reported that as he arrived at the peninsula, he proceeded across the shoreline and then crossed the beach; he dropped to an altitude of approximately 100 feet. He added that he made a right turn, then after passing the bridge, he made a tight left turn and “felt a bump/drop, as if my left wing lost lift”. He added that he leveled off, slightly nose high, and headed in an east, south east direction. The pilot could not recall any further details of the accident.