# NTSB GAA15CA078: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA4-200, N1105L, Mineral, VA, May 16, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2015, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Mineral, VA
- Coordinates: 38.072776, -77.820556 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0728&lon=-77.8206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Organization
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91196
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91196/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91196
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA078

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a high-speed water taxi in rough water conditions, resulting in a collision with a dock.

## 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: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2400102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2400102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md?model=2400102), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2400102), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2400102), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that during high-speed taxi after a water landing, he encountered the wake from a boat. The sponson (float) "caught the water" on the second wave and the airplane made a right turn. The airplane subsequently impacted a dock resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that during high-speed taxi after a water landing, he encountered the wake from a boat. The sponson (float) "caught the water" on the second wave and the airplane made a right turn. The airplane subsequently impacted a dock resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1105L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1105L-2018-03-09), registration cancelled 2018-03-09, S/N 696, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONSOLIDATED AERONAUTICS LAKE LA4-200 (200)
- Registry model: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4) (registry code 2400102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 696
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 1479
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2015, 20 hours before
- Departed: FCI, RICHMOND, VA
- Destination: Louisa, VA
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 760 total, 265 in this make and model, 711 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KLKU, 8 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 20150516007249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150516007249A), May 16, 2015: Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4, Mineral, VA, Substantial damage. Aircraft arrived at lake anna contrary creek area and made two left hand patterns in preparation for water landing to the ssw (along the long axis of the body…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91196. 662 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Wing and Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wing%20and%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.