# NTSB MIA00LA240: Lake LA-4, N2015L, Pensacola, FL, August 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2000, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Pensacola, FL - Coordinates: 30.500612, -87.370185 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5006&lon=-87.3702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50018/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA240 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction failure to achieve the proper touch down point during a water landing, and the CFI's improper supervision and failure to initiate a go-around in sufficient time to avoid and in-flight collision with trees, water, and subsequent nose down. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) - proper touchdown point - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - go-around - attempted, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Nose down, go-around (vfr) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot receiving instruction did not obtain the proper touch down point during a water landing resulting in a bounced landing. The CFI stated he failed to initiate a go-around in sufficient time, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees, water, and a subsequent nose down of the seaplane in the water. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2000, at about 1745 central daylight time, a Lake LA-4 seaplane, N2015L, registered to a private owner crashed during a touch-and-go landing on the Perdido River located in the vicinity of Pensacola, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The seaplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot receiving instruction and the airline transport-rated flight instructor (CFI) sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Perdido River, about 4 minutes before the accident. The commercial pilot stated he and the CFI had been conducting takeoffs and landings from the Perdido River in preparation for his seaplane rating. They had made several touch-and-go, and full-stop landings. He took off from the river and set up for another touch-and-go landing to the south. On touchdown, the seaplane bounced, he held his pitch attitude, and the CFI instructed him to add power, which he complied with. He observed a piece of land/island in the river, which they had seen on the other landings. The island was getting closer when the CFI took the flight controls and started a left turn to avoid a collision. The right wing collided with a tree, and the left wing collided with the water. The nose of the seaplane went below the water, came back up, and the seaplane remained floating. The CFI stated the touchdown on the last water landing approach resulted in a bounce and the second touch down was too close to the shore to stop without beaching against a steep bank. Full power was added and a left turn was initiated. The "escape maneuver" involved a wings level left turn and a gradual climb to gain enough altitude to do a "real turn" with the left wing down. He further stated we were running out of airspace rapidly and I was flying a compromise between a stall buffet with the trees on the right and the water on the left. The right wing clipped pine branches, which slowed the airplane. We rolled left and the wing tip/float hit the water, the airplane pitched nose low and collided with the water. The CFI further stated, "the errors in this incident was that I didn't initiate a go-around much earlier before our initial touch down." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2015L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2015L-2003-07-14), registration cancelled 2003-07-14, S/N 348, built 1966 (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: 348 - Airframe hours: 2050 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark L. Bellamy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2000, 45 hours before - Departed: PNS, PENSCACOLA, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,598 total, 53 in this make and model, 3,262 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PNS ## 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 20000817005489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000817005489A), Aug 17, 2000: Conaer LA4, Pensacola, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 17, 2000 at 1745 there was an accident involving a lake LA-4-180 seaplane on the peridio river near Pensacola, FL. The pilot Mr. Bellamny was… ## Other investigations on N2015L (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 NYC72FNE01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72FNE01), Jul 6, 1971: Lake LA-4 (N2015L), Southwick, MA, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI68D0120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0120), May 10, 1967: Lake LA-4 (N2015L), Milwaukee, WI, substantial 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.