# NTSB MIA02LA092: Lake LA-4-200, N3121P, Headland, AL, April 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 30, 2002, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Headland, AL - Coordinates: 31.364721, -85.309448 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3647&lon=-85.3094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA092 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reason resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff on runway 17, he retracted the landing gear, and noted that the airplane "did not continue to climb." He turned away from a populated area, and headed back towards the airport. He stated that the airplane "did not appear to be developing adequate power and was descending. The pilot elected to keep the landing gear up and land in a soft plowed field, about 500 yards southeast of the airport. Upon touchdown the airplane's left float separated, and the left wing impacted with the ground. After the accident a test run on the engine revealed that the engine was run to 2600 RPM, and no discrepancies were found. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 2002, about 1345 central daylight time, a Lake LA-4-200, N3121P, registered to an individual, impacted the ground during a forced landing near the Headland Municipal Airport, Headland, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport at 1340. According to the pilot, after performing a pre-flight inspection he started the airplane's engine and practiced taxi procedures for about 15 minutes before taking off on runway 17. After clearing the runway the pilot retracted the landing gear, and noted that the airplane "did not continue to climb." He elected to turn away from a populated area, and head back towards the airport. He stated that the airplane "did not appear to be developing adequate power and was descending." The pilot elected to keep the landing gear up and land in a soft plowed field, about 500 yards southeast of the airport. Upon touchdown the airplane's left float separated, and the left wing impacted with the ground. After the accident a test run was performed on the engine from N3121P, and according to the mechanic's report, dated September 30, 2002, the engine was run to 2,600 rpm, and no discrepancies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3121P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3121P-2013-04-16), registration cancelled 2013-04-16, S/N 983, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lake LA-4-200 - Registry model: [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200) (registry code 2400108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 983 - Airframe hours: 1529 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert K. Daugherty - Registered owner: Glenn Cannon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: 0J6, Headland, AL - Airport: 0J6, Headland Muni, runway 17, 2,848 × 162 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 14, 2001; seat: rear; flight hours: 20,396 total, 316 in this make and model, 19,925 as pilot in command, 157 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KDHN, 18 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 20020430006249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020430006249A), Apr 30, 2002: Conaer LA4200, Headland, AL, No damage. (-23) Mishap pilot stated that pleasure flight originated from Headland Municipal Airport (06J), at approximately 1315 CST. After gear retraction at the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54624. 315 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (item 2, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40170323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-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.