SARATOGA SPRINGS — A small plane overturned in Saratoga Lake Saturday, causing law enforcement and rescue teams to respond and family members to fear the worst.

Craig Skevington, 58, who lives on Saratoga Lake, landed his 1968 Cessna 185 float plane near his home at around 1:20 p.m. Saturday. Minutes later, it capsized, and its bottom could be seen upside down in the lake near the Tropic Hut restaurant.

Skevington's wife, Mary, said she saw only the plane's pontoons sticking out of the water and thought her husband had crashed into the lake. Other observers called 911, apparently believing the same thing.

State Police, city police, state Department of Environmental Conservation officers, and fire and emergency crews sped to the scene and formed a command center off Route 9P near the Saratoga County Veterans Memorial Bridge. Traffic on Route 9P slowed and boats on the lake thinned as police motored to the location of the plane.

It soon became evident that the plane had not crashed.

When Skevington turned the plane's motor off, he noticed water building up inside the plane's landing pontoons. He attempted to pump the water out, but his weight caused the plane to capsize in the water, according to police. Neither Skevington nor a passenger, Paul Forde, 56, were injured. They were transported to the shore by passing boaters.

"Any water contamination from the plane's fuel appears to be minimum," State Police said in a statement. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident, they said.

After being interviewed by police, Skevington met with his relieved wife and explained what happened. He said he has flown for many years, but will need a new plane for the future.

"It's totaled," he said.

dyusko@timesunion.com • 518-454-5353 • @DAYusko