# NTSB ERA21LA078: Lake LA-4-200, N5023L, Orlando, FL, December 15, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 15, 2020, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Coordinates: 28.528496, -81.481477 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5285&lon=-81.4815&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102426
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102426/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102426
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA078

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lake LA-4-200, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5110310), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Lake LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=5110310), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Lake LA-4-200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=5110310), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the amphibious airplane departed the lake with a passenger, landed at a nearby airport where he deplaned the passenger, and was returning to the lake for landing. When the pilot reached the lake, he noted that it was hard to judge the airplane’s distance above the calm, glassy water while landing into the direction of the setting sun. Following the landing flare, the airplane “floated” a considerable distance before bouncing multiple times. The pilot then concluded he could neither complete the landing nor abort the landing before striking structures or other obstacles on the shore and deliberately nosed the airplane into the water to arrest its forward progress. As a result, the airplane’s fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5023L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5023L), registered now, S/N 480, built 1971 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 480
- Airframe hours: 1952.2
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-AIB 200 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Island Hoppers Seaplanes 2 LLC
- Registered owner: Island Hoppers Seaplanes 2 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 2020
- Departed: AVO, Avon Park, FL
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: NONE, Lake
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 256.3 total, 14.9 in this make and model, 256.3 as pilot in command, 8.4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KORL, 9 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 20201215018749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201215018749A), Dec 15, 2020: Lake LA-4-200, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. While attempting to land at Lake hiawassee, the pilot stated that following the landing flare, the airplane ?floated? A considerable distance before he bounced…

## Other investigations on N5023L (2)

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 FTW00LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA133), Apr 28, 2000: Lake LA-4-200 (N5023L), Claremore, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's premature raising of the flaps.
- [NTSB OAK72FXO37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72FXO37), Jun 24, 1972: Lake LA-4 (N5023L), Homewood, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102426. 514 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 53.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11792451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_b_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11792723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Eric%20Dinsdale-Rel.pdf
- Witness (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11793140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Video file (item 4, MOV, 451 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11793150&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_1513-Rel.MOV
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 9.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11791915&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.

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