# NTSB MIA96LA015: Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200, N6180V, Morganton, NC, October 28, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 28, 1995, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC) - Place: Morganton, NC - Coordinates: 35.739315, -81.690803 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7393&lon=-81.6908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37936/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA015 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT ON SHORT FINAL. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - short field landing/procedure - improper, pilot in command - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear strut - overload ## Analysis THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED AS PART OF THE FAA WINGS PROGRAM, WITH A SECOND PILOT AS AN OBSERVER. THE OBSERVER STATED THAT, WHILE PRACTICING LANDINGS, THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE TO AN EXCESSIVE ANGLE ON SHORT FINAL RESULTING IN AN EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT. BEFORE THE DESCENT RATE COULD BE STOPPED THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT FAILED. ## Factual narrative On October 28, 1995, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Lake LA-4-200, N6180V, registered to Water Wings, Inc., was damaged during a hard landing at Morganton-Lenoir Airport, Morganton, North Carolina, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage. The commercial-rated pilot and airline transport-rated observer pilot were not injured. The flight originated from Hickory, North Carolina, the same day about 0950. The pilot stated the flight was being conducted as part of the FAA Wings Program. He was the pilot-in-command and the second pilot was observing him. After departing Hickory, they performed airwork and then proceeded to Morganton for landing practice. After the first landing the observer asked him to demonstrate a maximum performance short field takeoff and then a maximum performance short field landing over an imaginary 50 foot object. While on final approach they passed over the runway threshold at about 84 feet agl. He lowered the nose and reduced engine power. He felt a shear and the airspeed began to drop suddenly. He added full power and airspeed continued to drop to 62 mph. As they approached the runway rapidly he raised the nose to level and they hit the runway in a flat attitude. The right main landing gear strut failed on touchdown. The observer pilot stated that on the first approach to land at Hickory the pilot turned on short base at 1,500 feet agl. The pilot immediately put the nose down to an excessive angle of attack. He commented to the pilot about this and the pilot raised the nose and made a normal landing. On the second approach they crossed the runway threshold at about 100 feet agl. The pilot again put the aircraft in an excessive angle of descent, which caught him by surprise. He grabbed the control wheel and pulled back but it was too late to avoid contact with the runway. The aircraft hit hard in a flat attitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6180V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6180V-2013-05-31), registration cancelled 2013-05-31, S/N 833, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200 (LAKE LA-4-) - 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: 833 - Airframe hours: 1346 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Water Wings, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 1995, 17 hours before - Airport: MRN, Morganton-Lenoir, runway 21, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,092 total, 463 in this make and model, 931 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HKY, 15 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 19951028034919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951028034919A), Oct 28, 1995: Conaer LA4200, Morganton, NC, Substantial damage. Steep approach late flare. Impacted hard. Right main gear collapsed. Wings program demo flight with observer. 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.