# NTSB CHI91LA179: Lake LA-4-200, N2596P, Battle Creek, MI, June 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 1, 1991, 13:10 local (17:10 UTC)
- Place: Battle Creek, MI
- Location: 42.3212° N, 85.1797° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Battle Creek, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3212&lon=-85.1797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15085
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15085/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA179

## Probable cause

AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY THE DUAL STUDENT WAS NOT MAINTAINED, REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE CFI WAS DELAYED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS ROUGH WATER CAUSED BY A POWER BOAT WAKE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, taxi - to takeoff
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE CFI SAID THAT WHILE TAXIING ON STEP THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A POWER BOATS WAKE AND BECAME AIRBORNE. THE STUDENT PILOT REDUCED THE POWER, AND THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN. THE CFI TOOK OER THE CONTROLS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT AND THE ACFT STRUCK THE WATER NOSE DOWN, AT ABOUT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE. THE ACFT NOSE FILLED WITH WATER AND SANK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2596P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2596P), registered now, S/N 879, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: 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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 879
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Brook Aero, Inc

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,100 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,850 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: BTL, 1 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 19910601018569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910601018569A), Jun 1, 1991: Conaer LA4200, Battle Creek, MI, Substantial damage. Amphibian bounced into air after crossing boat wake while step taxiing. Student cut power. Nosed into lake. Sank.

## Other investigations on N2596P (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 IAD79DID16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DID16), May 20, 1979: Lake LA4 (N2596P), Oak Grove, VA, 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.

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