# NTSB NYC88LA176: Lake LA-4, N6655L, Linden, NJ, July 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1988, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Linden, NJ
- Location: 40.6273° N, 74.2363° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Linden, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6273&lon=-74.2363&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36178
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36178/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA176

## Probable cause

HARD LANDING DUE TO IMPROPER LEVEL OFF OF THE STUDENT AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. THE LEFT WING PARTIALLY FAILED BECAUSE OF OVERLOAD AND THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SWAMP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wing,wing attachment bolt - overload (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - roll/run
  - aircraft handling - not possible, dual student
  - aircraft handling - not possible, pilot in command(cfi)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ON FINAL TAKEOFF OF A FULL STOP LANDING PRACTICE, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS AT THE CONTROLS BUT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT AS IT CLIMBED VERY SLOWLY. THE CFI TOOK OVER APPLYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF LEFT AILERON TO MAINTAIN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. AT THIS POINT, THE STUDENT OBSERVED CREASES IN THE UPPER SKIN OF THE LEFT WING. THE ACFT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR POWER LINES, BUT DUE TO THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN, THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN MARSHLAND. THE ACFT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY AS THE ACFT SPUN AROUND. METALLURGICAL INSPECTION REVEALED THE LEFT WING CONTAINED A COMPRESSION BUCKLE WITH UPWARD BENDING OF THE WING. THE INTERNAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF THE WING SHOWED SIGNS OF OVERLOAD/OVERSTRESS FAILURES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6655L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6655L-1991-01-30), registration cancelled 1991-01-30, S/N 418 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LAKE LA-4
- Registry model: [Lake LA-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4) (registry code 5110302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 418
- Airframe hours: 1062
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Walter Fil
- Registered owner: Walter G Feb
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1988, 25 hours before
- Departed: LDJ, LINDEN, NJ
- Airport: LDJ, Linden, runway 14, 2,493 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 330 total, 31 in this make and model, 252 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point -0 °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 19880704025199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880704025199A), Jul 4, 1988: Conaer LA4, Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. Student used full left aileron to level wings on takeoff. Wing creases. CFI aborted. Landed in marsh. Wing was bent

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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