Kohler Aviation

Loening C-2 Air Yacht

The float plane departed Milwaukee harbor at 1510LT on a flight to Muskegon. About 30 minutes into the flight, while cruising at a height of 200 feet in marginal weather conditions, the engine failed, maybe due to a valve issue according to the pilot. The crew reduced his altitude and ditched the airplane. The crew remained sitting in the cabin for about 5 hours when the right pontoon snapped off and the right wing cracked. The ship started to list and the crew get out on the left wing to balance it. Because the waves were hitting the seaplane hard, it cracked and eventually sank. Both pilots Pat Gossett and Ben Craycraft were rescued by the crew of the USCG vessel named 'Escanaba' shortly before midnight.

Loening C-2 Air Yacht

Shortly after takeoff from Milwaukee-Maitland Field, while climbing to a height of about 20 feet, the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed into Lake Michigan. All seven occupants were rescued and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.