BENTON FRED D SEAWIND 3000 — Sarasota, FL

What happened

The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate the amphibious airplane for a potential buyer. Four months earlier, the accident pilot performed a forced landing on water due to a loss of engine power. Maintenance personnel subsequently found a broken fuel injector line and repaired same. The propeller was also removed, overhauled, and replaced. A witness stated that the pilot had difficulty starting the engine prior to the accident flight. Maintenance personnel reported that the pilot performed high speed taxi tests prior to the flight and the pilot stated to them that the engine and propeller were performing satisfactorily. During the takeoff and initial climb, witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be climbing slowly and then stopped climbing and was on the verge of a stall. The airplane "pancaked" into trees and exploded. One witness heard a backfire or popping noise prior to the crash. The airplane collided with trees and then the ground, resulting in a post-crash fire that consumed a majority of the wreckage. An examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller did not reveal evidence of a pre-existing malfunction or failure. Smooth cuts in tree limbs indicated that the engine was operating at the time of impact. The reason for the pilot's inability to establish a normal climb gradient could not be determined.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.