# NTSB MIA73DKT78: Lake LA-4, N455, Key West, FL, March 25, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 25, 1973
- Place: Key West, FL · KEY WEST, FL
- Location: 24.5651° N, 81.7755° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Key West, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5651&lon=-81.7755&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 11, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 173596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA73DKT78
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73DKT78

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1423  73/3/25    KEY WEST,FLA        LAKE LA-4           CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1020                    N455                PX-  0  0  2  OTHER PUBLIC              36, 9850 TOTAL HOURS, 152
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EVERGLDS N.PARK,FLA         DRY TORTUGAS,FLA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO USE OR INCORRECTLY USED MISC.EQUIPMENT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
           TERRAIN - ROUGH WATER
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          150                                                       18
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- WATER RUDDER NOT EXTDD BFR LDG.NOSE AND R WING OF ACFT HIT PIER.WIND GUSTING 25K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N455](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N455-1977-07-07), registration cancelled 1977-07-07, S/N 430 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4
- Registry model: [Lake LA-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4) (registry code 5110302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730325013979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730325013979A), Mar 25, 1973: Conaer LA4, Key West, FL, Substantial damage. Water rudder not extdd bfr ldg. Nose and r wing of acft hit pier. Wind gusting 25K.

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.

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