# NTSB MIA99LA241: Lake LA-4-200, N8002H, Winter Haven, FL, August 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1999, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Winter Haven, FL - Coordinates: 28.040092, -81.719612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0401&lon=-81.7196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47237 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47237/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA241 ## Probable cause the pilot-in command/flight instructor allowed the student pilot to get the nose of the airplane too low in the water causing a loss of directional control and a subsequent impact of the right wing in the water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose down, taxi - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight had landed on the lake after the pilots had been practicing landings and takeoffs. While attempting a water take off in a left step turn the bow was allowed to get too low causing the right front portion of the hull to dig in and spin the aircraft about 180 degrees. The flight instructor stated, '...I took control of the aircraft when the student did not correct the pitch attitude, but a split second too late.' The pilot receiving instruction stated, '...while completing a step turn taxi maneuver to the left apparently I allowed the bow to become too low swinging the aircraft 180 degrees to the right causing damage....' ## Factual narrative On August 29, 1999, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Lake LA-4-200, N8002H, registered to a private individual, impacted with the water while taxiing on a lake near Winter Haven, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local training flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The two airline transport-rated pilots reported no injuries. The flight had departed from a seaplane base near Winter Haven, about 0930. The flight had landed on the lake after the pilots had been practicing landings and takeoffs. The pilot-in-command/certified flight instructor (CFI) stated, "...while attempting a water take off in a left step turn the bow was allowed to get too low causing the right front portion of the hull to dig in and spin the aircraft about 180 degrees...as the flight instructor I took control of the aircraft when the student did not correct the pitch attitude, but a split second too late." The pilot receiving instruction stated, "...while completing a step turn taxi maneuver to the left apparently I allowed the bow to become too low swinging the aircraft 180 degrees to the right causing damage...." ## Aircraft - Registration: N8002H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Lake LA-4-200 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1000 - Airframe hours: 789 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Jack Browns Seplane Base - Registered owner: Charles J. Starling - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1998, 97 hours before - Airport: GIF, Gilbert Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 13,000 total, 160 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCO, 40 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 19990829042389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990829042389A), Aug 29, 1999: Conaer LA4200, Winter Haven, FL, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. (-23) While performing step taxi, the left hand sponsor dug into the water causing the a/c to spin 180 degrees at a high rate of speed. Both sponsors broke… 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.