The Cessna 208 Caravan 675 was carrying seven people when it slammed nose-first into the water moments after take-off and sank at Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, on January 7.
Pilot James Wong, 34, a 65-year-old Swiss woman and 60-year-old Danish man died in the accident.
Four other passengers survived - a 63-year-old Swiss man, 58-year-old Danish woman and Western Australians Jeremy and Patricia Connor aged 63 and 65.
A preliminary report into the crash released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau on Thursday provides details of the incident but no findings on its cause, which will be revealed in its final report.
One of the directors of Swan River Seaplanes texted Mr Wong at 3.11pm to ask about wind conditions, the safety bureau report says.
He responded that conditions were "OK but rough" but the swell was "not too bad" closer to shore, noting the aircraft would be "pretty light" for the departure.
The aircraft's earlier flight to Rottnest Island carrying the pilot and 10 passengers was labelled uneventful. Six passengers boarded its return flight to South Perth and were fitted with life jackets.
"Passengers described conditions onboard the vessel and pontoon as rough and windy," the report said of the return flight from the island.
The engine was switched on at 4pm and the plane travelled along the surface of the water for 32 seconds.
It became airborne with a high-nose attitude as it approached the western tip of Phillip Rock and rolled rapidly to the left and hit the water.
The aircraft remained partially afloat, with its nose resting on the sea floor and all cabin doors were submerged.
Four passengers moved into a pocket of air in the rear cabin and one opened the top section of the rear right door, where they and another passenger exited through.
"The coxswain of the tender vessel broke the rear left aircraft window, and two passengers recalled escaping through this broken window," the report said.
The bodies of Mr Wong and the two tourists were later pulled from the wreckage, eight metres below the water's surface.
Three of the four survivors were injured and taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital. One passenger was completely unhurt.
The aircraft had been brought to Perth from NSW for scenic flights over the city and Rottnest Island, arriving on New Year's Day and making several flights before the crash.
Mr Wong had more than 1900 hours of aeronautical experience, including almost 1400 hours on floatplanes and over 2600 water landings.
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