# NTSB LAX96LA100: Lake LA-4-200, N5LY, Folsom Lake, CA, December 27, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 1995, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Folsom Lake, CA - Coordinates: 38.66996, -121.140632 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6700&lon=-121.1406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29368 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29368/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA100 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the dual student and improper remedial action. A factor relating to the accident was: failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control. ## 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, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - wing,wingtip - overload ## Analysis The student was practicing a confined area takeoff and initiated a turn to the right when the aircraft began skidding to the outside of the turn. The instructor applied right rudder, right aileron, and reduced the power to idle. As power was reduced, the aircraft suddenly came down off the step and settled into the water. The instructor saw the left wing tip descend into the water, and he responded by adding full power and leveling the wings. As power was added, the aircraft accelerated and lifted off. After becoming airborne, the instructor surveyed the damage and decided to return to airport. A landing was made without further incident. Substantial damage to the left wing was discovered during maintenance inspection. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 1995, about 1100 hours Pacific standard time, a Lake LA-4-200 amphibian, N5LY, drug a wing in the water on takeoff from Folsom Lake near Folsom, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the flight instructor nor his student were injured. The aircraft was being operated as an instructional flight by a private owner when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Sacramento, California, about 1030. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The instructor reported that his student was in the process of practicing a confined area takeoff. After the aircraft came up onto the step, the student initiated a turn toward the right when the aircraft began skidding to the outside of the turn. To compensate for this condition, the instructor applied right rudder, right aileron, and reduced the engine power to idle. As the power was reduced, the aircraft came down off the step and settled into the water. When this occurred the instructor saw the left wing tip descend below the surface of the water and he responded by adding full power and leveling the wings. As the wings were leveled and power added the aircraft accelerated and lifted off. After becoming airborne the instructor observed skin damage to both sponsons. Satisfied that the aircraft was controllable in the air, but uncertain if the aircraft could be landed safely in the water due to the possibility of reduced buoyancy if the damage to the sponsons allowed them to take on water, the instructor decided to return to Natomas Field. Upon arrival at Natomas, the aircraft landed without further incident. A postaccident maintenance inspection revealed damage to both under wing sponsons, the nose gear door, internal bulkheads, and skin on the left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5LY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5LY), registered now, S/N 474, 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: Unknown - Serial number: 474 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Vladimir Zeravica - Registered owner: West Seegmiller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 1995, 65 hours before - Departed: Q96, SACRAMENTO, CA - Destination: CA - Airport: Folsom Lake ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,500 total, 45 in this make and model, 2,350 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCC, 17 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 19951227046399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951227046399A), Dec 27, 1995: Conaer LA4200, Folsom, CA, Substantial damage. Student skidded during water step turn. CFI aborted. Wing dipped in water. Added power tookoff. Sponsons wing damage 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.