# NTSB ANC10LA062: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200, N8543H, Skwentna, AK, July 18, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 2010, 19:30 local (Jul 18, 2010, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 62, -151.366668
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0000&lon=-151.3667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76662
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76662/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76662
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10LA062

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate flare, which resulted in a nose-low impact with glassy water and a subsequent nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention while landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was performing touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings in his seaplane in glassy water conditions. The first two landings were harder than normal and the airplane bounced. On the third landing, the airplane landed hard and nosed over. The pilot recalled that his airspeed during the approach was 60 knots and was descending at 150 feet-per-minute. He additionally stated that, after crossing the shoreline, he glanced down at the vertical speed indicator where his eyes remained focused during the impact with the water. He said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On July 17, 2010, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a Consolidated Aeronautics, Lake LA-4-200 amphibious airplane, N8543H, sustained substantial damage while doing touch-and-go landings on Hewett Lake, about 6 miles west of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on July 19, the pilot said he flew to Hewett Lake to visit some friends. He said after the visit, and prior to his returning home, he elected to do some touch-and-go landings on Hewett Lake. The pilot reported that the water was glassy, and the first two landings were harder than he would have liked, and the airplane bounced. He said on the third landing, the airplane landed hard and nosed over. He said he was able to escape the wreckage, inflate his vest, and he was picked up by boaters. The pilot said he made his approach at 60 knots airspeed and 150 feet per minute rate of descent. He said the wind was light, and the water was glassy. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. In a written statement to the NTSB dated October 22, the pilot reported that "after crossing the shoreline, I glanced down at the VSI (vertical speed indicator)..., before I looked up, the airplane impacted the water."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8543H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8543H), registered now, S/N 1105, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONSOLIDATED AERONAUTICS INC. LAKE LA-4-200
- Registry model: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200) (registry code 2400108) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1105
- Airframe hours: 1850
- Engines: LYCOMING IO360 SER A&C 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Strother George C
- Registered owner: Strother George C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2010
- Departed: Skwentna, AK
- Destination: 34AK, Palmer, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,710 total, 358 in this make and model, 1,505 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20100717041249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100717041249A), Jul 17, 2010: Consolidate LAKE LA-4-2, Swentna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he was landing in glassy water conditions on hewitt lake. He set his aircraft up for a 150 foot per minute descent at approximately 60 mph.…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76662. 623 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 623 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340641&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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