# NTSB MIA99LA178: Lake LA-4-200, N142JM, Charlotte, NC, June 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 13, 1999, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Coordinates: 35.230487, -80.909263 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2305&lon=-80.9093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46537/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA178 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged the flare during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water,rough - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command ## Analysis While taking off from a lake, the airplane struck a large wave (wake), was catapulted into the air, and then settled back to the water. At this point the airplane was again catapulted into the air by a second wave. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and 'intended to tail land' into the water. The tail of the airplane struck the water and the nose dropped through level flight, struck the water in a nose down attitude, and came to a stop. The pilot said he remembered hearing the engine still running so he reached up and moved the mixture to idle cutoff. Boaters helped the pilot attempt to tow the airplane to shore. About 25 yards from shore the airplane nosed over and the tail stood straight up. The airplane continued to go nose down in the water and sank upside down. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 1999, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Lake LA-4-200, N142JM, registered to a private individual, impacted with the water during takeoff from Lake Wyle, Charlotte, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time. According to the pilot he had taxied to the main channel, performed a run-up, waited until the boat traffic "died down and the water got relatively calm...." He stated, "...I headed south and climbed up on the step. After getting on the step I reduced power to test the ride...I determined that the water was smooth enough to start my take off run so I advanced the throttle to max power and began to accelerate to lift off speed (60 mph). At about 50 mph IAS [indicated airspeed] I hit a large wave (wake) and aircraft was catapulted into the air. I maintained a slight nose high altitude and the aircraft settled back to the water. At this point the aircraft was again catapulted into the air by a second wave." The pilot aborted the takeoff, reduced power, said he held the nose up and "intended to tail land" into the water, as per the aircraft's manual. He further stated that, "...as the bottom of the tail of the aircraft struck the water the nose dropped through level flight altitude [sic] and struck the water in a slight nose down altitude [sic]. The aircraft came to a stop and...water spray covered the windscreen...I remember hearing the engine still running so I reached up and moved the mixture to idle cutoff." Some boaters came to the pilot's rescue and helped him tow the airplane to shore. About 25 yards from shore the airplane nosed over and the tail stood straight up. The airplane continued to go nose down in the water and sank upside down. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...it was determined that while on takeoff run, N142MJ...caught a wave at the rear and plowed into the water...investigation seems to indicate that the pilot's recovery technique from encountering a wave during takeoff are questionable." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N142JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N142JM-2013-08-08), registration cancelled 2013-08-08, S/N 1009, built 1980 (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: 1009 - Airframe hours: 1530 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory A. Crawford - Registered owner: Macguire And Crawford Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1998, 25 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,334 total, 73 in this make and model, 2,187 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT ## 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 19990613006839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990613006839A), Jun 13, 1999: Conaer LA4200, Charlotte, SC, Substantial damage. Acft began its take-off run in the water, struck a large swell, nosed over, and sank in lake wyle. (-23) pilot was attempting a takeoff on lake wylie,… 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.