# NTSB CEN21LA294: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200, N963L, Mio, MI, June 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2021, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Mio, MI - Coordinates: 44.674833, -84.122042 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6748&lon=-84.1220&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103379/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103379 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA294 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff roll when the engine did not produce full power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2400108), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and an engine run-up before departing on a personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the tachometer indicated 200 rpm below normal, which was an indication that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot continued the takeoff, and after liftoff, the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane descended and impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The low engine power indication should have prompted the pilot to abort the takeoff, which would have avoided the accident. A postaccident examination of the engine was not performed because the airplane owner did not make the engine available. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2021, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200 airplane, N963L, was involved in an accident near Mio, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated that he obtained fuel at the departure airport. He checked for water in the fuel during his preflight inspection of the airplane and performed an engine run-up before takeoff. He stated that during the takeoff roll, the tachometer indicated 200 rpm below normal. He continued the takeoff, and after liftoff, the airspeed remained at 65 mph. He turned the airplane to the east to return to the airport. He checked that the electric fuel pump switch was in the on position and that the throttle and mixture controls were in the full forward position. The airplane descended and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane owner did not provide the airplane engine to an engine overhaul facility as requested by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) assigned to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N963L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N963L-2022-10-21), registration cancelled 2022-10-21, S/N 963, built 1979 (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: 963 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 2077.7 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2021 - Destination: Lewiston, MI - Airport: 51M, Oscoda County Dennis Kauffman Memorial Airport, runway 28, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 408 total, 107 in this make and model, 289 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KY31, 26 nm away ## 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 20210628011029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210628011029A), Jun 28, 2021: Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200, Mio, MI, Substantial damage. On June 28th, 2021 at approximately 1400 local time, a 1979 [privacy data omitted] lake LA-4-200 aircraft, N963L, [privacy data omitted] operated by a private… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103379. 38.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 37.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14906128&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email to aircraft owner for engine examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14811212&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Electronic%20Ignition;%20RE_%20N963L%20Engine%20Pick-up%20for%20Engine%20Run_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14813561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-88Y0M73-2-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 633 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14811629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.