# NTSB NYC83FNC03: Lake LA-4-200, N5015L, Vinalhaven, ME, May 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: May 25, 1983, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Vinalhaven, ME
- Location: 44.0481° N, 68.8317° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vinalhaven, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0481&lon=-68.8317&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35111
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC83FNC03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35111/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC83FNC03

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuselage - water (contributing factor)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft weight and balance - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED FOLLOWING A WATER TAKEOFF FROM A SMALL LAKE. THE PILOT AND WITNESSES STATED THAT FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO REMOVE WATER FROM THE TAIL SECTION OF THE ACFT. THE WATER HAD ACCUMULATED DUE TO A MISSING REAR PLUG IN THE FUSELAGE. WITNESSES STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL TAKEOFF ATTEMPTS THE ACFT TOOKOFF BUT CLIMBED SLOWLY AND APPEARED TO BE OUT OF CONTROL. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE COULD NOT LOWER THE NOSE OR MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5015L (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 472
- Airframe hours: 646
- Engines: LYCOMING TO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eugene Hurtubise, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1983, 1 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 262 total, 115 in this make and model, 207 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 19830525023009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830525023009A), May 25, 1983: Conaer LA4200, Vinalhaven, ME, Destroyed. Aircraft stalled on climbout from a water takeoff. Had failed to drain all water from hull. Water shifted CG.

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.

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