A flipped seaplane was still partially submerged at 7 p.m. Wednesday, as personnel worked to pull it from Lake Monomonac in Rindge.
The Rindge Fire Department was called to the northwestern end of the lake Tuesday night around 8:30, after dispatch advised them of the plane. Eyewitnesses said the seaplane attempted to land on the lake with its landing gear extended, hit the water, and then flipped over.
“It did one flip, nose over tail,” said Otto Morlock, 10, who was outside when the incident occurred. “As soon as I saw it, I ran inside to get my mom and dad.”
The plane, a camouflage painted Siai-Marchetti SM 1019 Experimental Amphibian seaplane, is registered to Earl Robinson, 57, who owns property on the lake, according to Rindge Fire Chief Rick Donovan.
Neither Robinson or his passenger, a 22-year-old male, were injured during the crash. Robinson’s passenger was a flight crew member, according to the accident report on the Federal Aviation Administration website.
Fire personnel began to strategize a way to get the seaplane out of the lake on Conifer Road Wednesday morning, eventually moving their base to Swan Point Beach at the northern end of the lake. A friend of Robinson flew into Silver Ranch Airpark in Jaffrey from Maine to help with the extrication.
The crew dragged the plane near Blueberry Lane, where they would attempt to flip the plane over. Using ropes and a truck on land, the crew attempted to lift the rear-end of the plane.
At least two attempts to lift the rear end of the plane to flip it over were made and unsuccessful.
The first time, the rope snapped, and the second time, the wings of the plane caught in the mud.
As of press time, the crew was assessing different options to flip the plane over while causing minimum damage, with a discussion taking place about bringing in a tow truck to assist.
Donovan said Wednesday morning that the plane crashed because its landing gear was extended, causing the plane to bounce off the water.
The FAA will investigate the cause of the crash further in the near future.