# NTSB ERA13CA413: Lake LA-4, N1136L, Monticello, KY, September 6, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 6, 2013, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Monticello, KY - Coordinates: 36.967224, -84.851669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9672&lon=-84.8517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA413 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA413 ## Probable cause An encounter with a large wave during water taxi, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Lake LA-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md?model=5110302), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03030000/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Lake LA-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=5110302), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lake LA-4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5110302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Lake LA-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=5110302), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he made a pass over the lake in search of a landing site with the least amount of boat traffic. After an uneventful water landing, he began to water taxi the airplane; however, his passenger and he noticed a large wave approaching at a 45 degree angle from the port side of the airplane. As the wave impacted the airplane’s pontoons, the pilot encountered a strong left rudder deflection and the airplane nosed over into the water. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s nose section. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he made a pass over the lake in search of a landing site with the least amount of boat traffic. After an uneventful water landing, he began to water taxi the airplane; however, his passenger and he noticed a large wave approaching at a 45 degree angle from the port side of the airplane. As the wave impacted the airplane’s pontoons, the pilot encountered a strong left rudder deflection and the airplane nosed over into the water. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s nose section. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1136L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1136L-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 298, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4 - Registry model: [Lake LA-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4) (registry code 5110302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 298 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 2023 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2013 - Departed: EKQ, Monticello, KY - Destination: None, Monticello, KY - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2013; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,100 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: EKQ, 7 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 20130906019549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130906019549A), Sep 6, 2013: Lake LA-4, Nancy, KY, Substantial damage. On Friday September 6th at approximately 1800 hours pilot and his passenger were attempting to land on Lake cumberland in the vicinity of Nancy KY, east of… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88028. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 435 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation, FAA Telephone Interview (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20FAA%20Telephone%20Interview-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation, Pilot Telephone Interview (item 3, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation,%20Pilot%20Telephone%20Interview-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photograph 1: View of Airplane from Forward Section (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20from%20Forward%20Section%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.