# NTSB CHI82DA159: Lake LA-4, N8005E, Dowagiac, MI, May 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1982, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Dowagiac, MI
- Location: 41.9834° N, 86.1128° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dowagiac, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9834&lon=-86.1128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70499/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA159

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, taxi - from landing
  - terrain condition - water,rough (cause)
  - unsafe/hazardous condition - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAXI TO THE SHORE THE AIRCRAFT RAN INTO THE WAKE OF A BOAT AND SKIPPED SIDEWAYS. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A SECOND WAVE THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE WATER SHEARING OFF THE SPONSON AND BENDING THE WING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8005E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1034
- Airframe hours: 332
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bryan E. Erb
- Registered owner: Plane Leasing Ltd
- Departed: DOWAGIAC, MI
- Destination: C20

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 274 total, 23 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 151 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 20 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 19820509015519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820509015519A), May 9, 1982: Conaer LA4200, Dowagiac, MI, Substantial damage. Seaplane was making left steep turn when right sponson caught wake of boat resulting in substantial damage.

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.