# NTSB CHI93FAMS3: Lake LA-4, N7608L, Superior, WI, April 18, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Missing aircraft · Final report
- Date: April 17, 1993, 19:00 local (Apr 18, 1993, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Superior, WI
- Coordinates: 46.670486, -92.079711 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.6705&lon=-92.0797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9185
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93FAMS3
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9185/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93FAMS3

## Probable cause

undetermined.

## Sequence of events

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

- Missing aircraft, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

THE PILOT AND PASSENGER DEPARTED DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON.  VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  WHEN THE PILOT DID NOT ARRIVE FOR WORK ON MONDAY, HE WAS REPORTED MISSING, AND A SEARCH WAS INITIATED.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REACHED THE DESTINATION.  SIX DAYS AFTER THE FLIGHT LEFT DULUTH, THE BODY OF THE PASSENGER WAS FOUND BY A SEARCH PARTY ON THE SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR, EAST OF SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN.  THE SEARCH WAS TERMINATED TWO DAYS LATER.  AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS, THE BODY OF THE PILOT WAS ALSO FOUND WASHED UP ON THE LAKE SHORE, EAST OF SUPERIOR.  THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT FOUND AND WAS PRESUMED TO BE IN LAKE SUPERIOR.

## Factual narrative

On April 17, 1993, at 1846 central daylight time,  a Lake LA-4, N7608L, departed Duluth International Airport, Duluth, Minnesota, with a reported destination of Cable Union Airport, Cable, Wisconsin.  There were two persons aboard the airplane, the private pilot and one passenger.  The Duluth tower reported the last contact they had with the pilot was at 1849 when he reported level at 2400 feet (msl) over the lake, and was given a 1200 beacon code.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot, who was not married, was reported missing on April 19 when he did not show up at work.  A search was initiated by the Douglas County Wisconsin Sheriff's Department and the Civil Air Patrol.  The search determined the airplane never reached its intended destination on April 17.  No other airports reported seeing the airplane.

On April 23, 1993, the body of the passenger was found by a search party on the shore of Lake Superior, five miles east of Superior, Wisconsin, near the mouth of the Amicon River.  A flight bag with the pilot's name and some small pieces of airplane debris were also found near the body.

The search was terminated on April 25, with no further success.

On July 25, 1993, the body of the pilot was discovered on the shore of Lake Superior about one-mile east of Superior, Wisconsin.  An autopsy was performed at St. Luke's Hospital, Duluth, Minnesota, by Stanley D. Irving, M.D.  The cause of death was drowning.

The airplane has never been found and is believed to be missing in Lake Superior.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7608L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 381
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph R. Kuth
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DLH, DULUTH, MN
- Destination: 3CU, CABLE, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 700 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DLH, 15 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 19930417010489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930417010489A), Apr 17, 1993: Conaer LA4, Superior, WI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Became missing out of dlh. Passenger body found on shore of lake. Pilot washed up 2MOS later. Plane not found.

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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