# NTSB NYC87LA212: Lake LA-4-250, N14037, Westport, NY, July 31, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1987, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Westport, NY
- Coordinates: 44.170898, -73.430549 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1709&lon=-73.4305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30702
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30702/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA212

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - lift-off - premature (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG THE TAKEOFF RUN ON A LAKE, THE AMPHIBIAN ENCTRD ROUGH WATER & BECAME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY. THE ACFT THEN SETTLED ONTO THE WATER IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE & TOUCHED DOWN IN FRONT OF A LARGE WAVE. THE ACFT'S NOSE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO THE WAVE WHICH ALMOST BROUGHT THE PLANE TO A COMPLETE STOP. WITHIN SECONDS, THE NOSE SANK & THE ACFT BECAME INVERTED. THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THRU A WINDOW THAT HAD COME OUT DRG IMPACT. THE ACFT CONTD TO FLOAT, ALTHOUGH THE CABIN AREA WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14037](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14037-2010-05-21), registration cancelled 2010-05-21, S/N 39, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4-250
- Registry model: [Aerofab LAKE LA-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerofab-lake-la-250) (registry code 5110321) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 39
- Airframe hours: 107
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-C4B5 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas G. Tuxill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1986
- Airport: Lake Champlain

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 381 total, 98 in this make and model, 297 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19870731040319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870731040319A), Jul 31, 1987: Conaer LA4250, Essex, NY, Substantial damage. Tried to takeoff in rough water. Bounced into air on a wave came down head on into a swell and acft turned over.

## Other investigations on N14037 (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA08FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08FA091), Apr 18, 2008: AeroFab Lake LA-250 (N14037), Skaneateles, NY, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The certified flight instructor's failure to maintain airspeed during a steep turn.

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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