# NTSB FTW02LA156: Lake LA4-200, N1298L, Frankston, TX, May 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2002, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Frankston, TX - Coordinates: 32.049983, -95.499404 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0500&lon=-95.4994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54764 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54764/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54764 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA156 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions while landing on the water which resulted in a water loop/swerve. A contributing factor was a wind gust. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - water loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that as he touched down on the water, "a gust of wind caught the right wing and lifted it very quickly." The left wing sponson (float) then "caught the water," and the airplane "pulled" around resulting in damage to the engine support, wings, and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2002, approximately 1230 central daylight time, a Lake LA4-200 amphibious airplane, N1298L, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a water landing on Lake Palestine, near Frankston, Texas. The instrument rated commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Aero Estates private airstrip near Frankston, Texas, at 1200. The commercial pilot reported that he was considering buying the aircraft, and the purpose of the flight was to evaluate the airplane. The pilot added that after a 30-minute flight in the local area he elected to perform a water landing on Lake Palestine. While landing to the east, as the airplane touched down on the water, "a gust of wind caught the right wing and lifted it very quickly." The left wing sponson (float) then "caught the water" and the airplane "pulled" around resulting in damage to the engine support, wings, and fuselage. The pilot estimated that the winds at the time of the accident were from the east at 08 knots. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that he had accumulated over 1,100 flight hours in seaplanes and he had been a seaplane flight instructor for over 12 years. He further reported that "no action could have been taken to avoid this problem except not being there at that time." Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that the left float was separated from the wing and the left side of the fuselage was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1298L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Lake LA4-200 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 761 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Danny L. Dugan - Registered owner: Raymond E. Burch - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE, Frankston, TX - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 2,950 total, 65 in this make and model, 2,650 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 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 20020519011079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020519011079A), May 19, 2002: Conaer LA4200, Frankston, TX, No damage. (-23) Pilot was executing touch and goes at his home seaplane landing zone at lake palestine, Texas. On third landing a gust of wind lifted the left wing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54764. 516 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 516 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.