# NTSB SEA04LA055: Lake LA-4-200, N65675, Cusick, WA, March 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2004, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Cusick, WA - Coordinates: 48.510562, -117.370559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5106&lon=-117.3706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58944/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for crosswind conditions and his failure to maintain proper alignment in the direction of landing during the touchdown portion of a water landing on a river. Factors include crosswind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a series of water landings on a river in a 10 knot crosswind that was occasionally gusting to near 15 knots. During the accident landing, he inadvertently let the aircraft touch down in a sideways drift, resulting in the left wing digging into the water, damaging the left wing sponson and the structure of the wing itself. Immediately after the accident, the pilot taxied to the shore of a small island in the river in order to avoid the possibility that the aircraft may sink if it was taking on water. During that taxi, the tip of the left wing remained under the water. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft by an FAA Inspector did not reveal any evidence of a flight control anomaly, and according to the pilot, there was no indication that there had been any functional problem with the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2004, approximately 1200 Pacific standard time, a Lake LA-4-200, N65675, collided with the water during a touch-and-go landing on the Pend Oreille River about two miles north of Cusick, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The pilot had made multiple touch-and-go landings on the river immediately prior to this accident, and this landing was supposed to be the next in that series of touch-and-goes. According to the pilot/owner, he was conducting the series of water landings on the river in a 10 knot crosswind that was occasionally gusting to near 15 knots. During the subject landing, he inadvertently let the aircraft touch down in a sideways drift, resulting in the left wing digging into the water, and damage to the left wing sponson and the structure of the wing itself. Immediately after the accident, the pilot taxied to the shore of a small island in the river in order to avoid the possibility that the aircraft may sink if it was taking on water. During that taxi, the tip of the left wing remained under the water. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft by an FAA Inspector from the Spokane Flight Standards District Office, did not reveal any evidence of a flight control anomaly, and according to the pilot, there was no indication that there had been any functional problem with the aircraft. Although the pilot did not poses a seaplane rating, his logbook records indicated that he had received instruction in the accident aircraft, and that he had received a high-performance aircraft and complex aircraft endorsement in the aircraft on 6/14/2003. In addition, there was an entry in his logbook from a Certified Flight Instructor stating that he had received both a land and water "checkout" in the aircraft on 6/14/2003. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65675](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65675-2006-09-08), registration cancelled 2006-09-08, S/N 600, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lake LA-4-200 - Registry model: [Lake LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (registry code 5110310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 600 - Airframe hours: 1959 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James G. Cool - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 2003, 86 hours before - Departed: Cusick, WA - Destination: Cusick, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review May 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 157 total, 86 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °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). - [Incident 20040314003229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040314003229I), Mar 14, 2004: Conaer LA4200, Cusick, WA, Minor damage. (-23) On March 14, 2004 Dr. James cool was acting as pilot in command of N65675, a lake amphibious airplane on the pend oreille river near Cusick, Washington.… 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.