# Accident 20200404002209A: Lake LA-4-200, Hickory, NC, April 4, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 2020, 16:24 local time
- Place: Hickory, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8011° N, 81.3028° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8011&lon=-81.3028&mi=10
- Aircraft: N84PF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84PF-2022-09-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lake LA-4-200 (registry code 5110310, https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4-200
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,062 total, 1,726 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20CA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA144) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200404002209A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 4/4/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1624 LOCAL TIME, LAKE LA-4-200, REGISTRATION NUMBER N84PF, PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, INITIATED A TAKEOFF IN DAY VFR CONDITIONS FROM LAKE HICKORY APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE HIGHWAY 127 BRIDGE HEADING WESTBOUND ACCORDING TO A WITNESS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF JUST AFTER LIFTOFF, AS HE DID NOT BELIEVE HE COULD HAVE SAFELY CLEARED THE POWER LINES THAT PARALLELED THE BRIDGE.  THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT WATER-LOOPED UPON TOUCHDOWN AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND WINGS.  THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.  THE AIRMAN WAS CURRENT AND QUALIFIED FOR THE FLIGHT AND AIRWORTHINESS WAS NOT DETERMINED TO BE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT STATED THAT IT TOOK ABOUT 2,000 FEET FOR A NORMAL TAKEOFF ON THE WATER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA20CA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA144), Apr 4, 2020: Lake LA4 (N84PF), Hickory, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and attempted takeoff with obstacles in the direction of departure, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during the rejected takeoff.

## Other reports on N84PF (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20071026826269I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071026826269I), Oct 26, 2007: Conaer LA4200 (N84PF), Lakeville, MA, Minor damage. (-23) On October 26, 2007, at approximately 1600 eastern standard time (EST), a lake LA-4-200, N84PF being flown by the pilot [privacy data omitted] failed to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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