# NTSB MIA92LA009: Lake LA-4, N25PA, Panama City, FL, October 10, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 10, 1991, 14:32 local (19:32 UTC)
- Place: Panama City, FL
- Coordinates: 30.170946, -85.669067 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1709&lon=-85.6691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33018
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33018/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA009

## Probable cause

LOSS OF POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CFI'S INADEQUATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOLLOWING THE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - emergency procedure - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG AFTER THE STUDENT POSITIONED THE PROPELLER CONTROL TO THE HIGH RPM POSITION, THE CFI STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE & THE ENG EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER.  THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DESCENT, POSITIONED THE PROPELLER CONTROL TO THE LOW RPM POSITION, BUT NEVER LOOKED AT THE ENG INSTRUMENTS.  WHILE DESCENDING THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, THEN CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE GROUND.  THE ACFT WAS EXAMINED WHICH REVEALED FUEL QUANTITY SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN ENG OPERATION.  THE ENG WAS REMOVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION WHICH REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.  THE PROP & PROP GOVERNOR WERE REMOVED FOR EXAM WHICH REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.  NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE REASON FOR THE REPORTED LOSS OF POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N25PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25PA-1995-03-07), registration cancelled 1995-03-07, S/N 427 (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
- Serial number: 427
- Airframe hours: 1253
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Panama Aviation
- Registered owner: Panama Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1991, 6 hours before
- Airport: PFN, Panama City-Bay County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 15,900 total, 510 in this make and model, 15,300 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19911010045619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911010045619A), Oct 10, 1991: Conaer LA4, Panama City, FL, Substantial damage. Reported loud noise and power loss on final. Struck trees short of runway.

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.