# Accident 20201215018749A: Lake LA-4-200, Orlando, FL, December 15, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 15, 2020, 15:45 local time
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.5285° N, 81.4815° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5285&lon=-81.4815&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5023L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5023L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lake LA-4-200 (registry code 5110310, https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4-200
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Unknown or foreign certificate
- Pilot flight hours: 256 total, 14 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA078) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201215018749A

## Narrative

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

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT LAKE HIAWASSEE, THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE ?FLOATED? A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE BEFORE HE BOUNCED THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE SKIPPED  APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES UNTIL THE PILOT CONCLUDED HE COULD NEITHER COMPLETE THE LANDING NOR ABORT THE LANDING BEFORE STRIKING STRUCTURES OR OTHER OBSTACLES ON THE SHORE.  HE DELIBERATELY NOSED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE WATER TO ARREST ITS FORWARD PROGRESS.  THE SKIN ON THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEVERELY RIPPED. NOSE IS ALSO DENTED AND THE SPONSON ON THE RIGHT WING WAS TORN OFF. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET OF 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 ERA21LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA078), Dec 15, 2020: Lake LA-4-200 (N5023L), Orlando, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Other reports on N5023L (1)

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

- [Accident 20000429012149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000429012149A), Apr 29, 2000: Conaer LA4200 (N5023L), Oolaga, OK, No damage. (-23) On final approach, the pilot-in-command noted that the airplane was "low"; he added power. During the landing/flare, the airplane was about 1/3 of the…

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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