# NTSB MIA98LA086: Lake LA-4-200, N3020P, Lake Murray, SC, February 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 25, 1998, 14:55 local (19:55 UTC) - Place: Lake Murray, SC - Coordinates: 33.910449, -81.509223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9104&lon=-81.5092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38463 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38463/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA086 ## Probable cause A collision with an unknown submerged. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - submerged object (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aircraft control - not possible - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The amphibian airplane collided with a partially submerged object during a water landing that ripped and crushed the hull, below the water line, from the nose cone to the left side cockpit door. The airplane subsequently nosed over and submerged in the water.. ## Factual narrative On February 25, 1998, about 1455 eastern standard time, a Lake LA-4-200, N3020P, registered to and operated by Sea Flight, Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting a water landing on Lake Murray, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sank and was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. The flight originated from Columbia Metropolitan Airport about 27 minutes before the accident. Following the accident, the pilot stated he thought that either the nose gear had inadvertently extended or that during initial water touchdown, the hull impacted a submerged object. Witnesses on the lake were mixed in their individual observations of whether the landing gear were up or down during the water landing. An eyewitness, the wife of a Lake amphibian owner and an ex-flight attendant, stated that she observed the airplane fly over her lakeside house and that all landing gear were up. The water surface conditions at the landing site were reported as smooth. Because of recent heavy rainfall, the lake level was higher, the water clarity was diminished due to mud run-off, and the lake contained more floating and partially submerged debris than normal. The pilot stated he made three low passes over the landing area prior to his water landing. Examination of the submerged wreckage by salvage divers revealed the nose and left main gear fully retracted and totally in their respective wheel wells, while the right main gear was not fully retracted. The landing gear control handle was in the up position. Subsequent examination of the salvaged amphibian by FAA personnel revealed the hull impacted an unknown submerged object of such mass and weight to crush and tear the left front hull from the nose cone to the cockpit. Examination of the landing gear hydraulic actuators, main gear uplocks, and right main gear door damage revealed the probable sequence of events to be impact with a submerged object early in the touchdown followed by a prying action by the water to partially extend the right main landing gear during the postimpact gyrations. (See enclosed FAA Inspector's statement) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3020P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3020P-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 962 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 962 - Airframe hours: 1442 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sea Flight, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1997, 60 hours before - Departed: CAE, COLUMBIA, SC - Destination: SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,600 total, 4,573 in this make and model, 12,461 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 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 19980225007299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980225007299A), Feb 25, 1998: Conaer LA4200, Lake Murray, SC, Substantial damage. Landed amphibian in Lake Murray gear down sank. (.4)the amphibian airplane collided with a partially submerged object during a water landing that ripped and… 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.