# NTSB DEN83FA150: Lake LA-4-200, N6029V, Gillette, WY, June 23, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 23, 1983, 11:01 local (17:01 UTC)
- Place: Gillette, WY
- Coordinates: 44.460853, -105.700416 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4609&lon=-105.7004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15993
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15993/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FA150

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE ACFT. WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY TRIP, HE LANDED AT AN ARPT WITH AN ELEVATION OF 4363 FT & REFUELED. WHEN HE WAS TAKING OFF, THE DENSITY ALT WAS APRX 7089 FT & THE ACFT WAS NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE PLT RADIOED THAT HE 'WAS HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE GAINING ALT.' HE THEN STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD PROBLEMS & HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE. A STALL WARNING HORN WAS OPERATING AS HE WAS TRANSMITTING. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN A NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE WHILE AT A RELATIVELY LOW AIRSPEED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG, ACFT SYSTEMS & FLT CONTROLS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO A LYCOMING REP, THE ENG WOULD HAVE BEEN PRODUCING A MIXIMUM OF 79% OF ITS RATED POWER AT A DENSITY ALT OF 7089 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6029V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6029V-1983-11-01), registration cancelled 1983-11-01, S/N 782 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4-200
- Registry model: [Lake LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (registry code 5110310) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 782
- Airframe hours: 614
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul C. Keith
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: YYC, CALGARY
- Airport: GCC, Gillette Cambell County, runway 20, 2,970 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 484 total, 33 in this make and model, 347 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830623035549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830623035549A), Jun 23, 1983: Conaer LA4200, Gillette, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Unable to climb after takeoff. Struck the ground and cartwheeled trying to return. Aft CG and high density altitude

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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