- Date
- May 23, 1987, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place
- Sparta, NC
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8543AConsolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 27, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870523015819A
- Case key
- 7433
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt attempted a precautionary ldg at a private grass airstrip he had located, after being advised of wx at his intended destination by ATC. Just prior to touchdown, he observed a balloon at mid-field and excuted a go-around. During climbout, he lost sight of the field and circled for several minutes as the wx conditions deteriorated. He subsequently attempted a ldg on a gravel road where he observed wires in front of him; he added full pwr to go-around and the amphibious acft missed the wires to the front, but a wing struck a utility pole guy wire. The acft spun around to the side and came to rest nose-up against a utility pole. The plt told a state trooper that he had attempted the ldg because he felt he was getting low on fuel. Later examination of the acft revealed approx 2 gals. Of fuel on board. No evidence of leakage was found. The flt originated at salisbury, MD at approx 1135 EDT.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8543A
- Reported as
- Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200 (LAKE LA-4-)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1102
- Airframe hours
- 280
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Skelton,Homer D
- Registered owner
- Homer D Skelton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SBY · Salisbury, MD
- Destination
- TRI · Kingsport, TN
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 835 total · 16 in this make and model · 685 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.