Aviation Crash Map

Lake LA-4-200-EP N8521Z

12 April 1989 · Bellevue, Washington, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 12 April 1989 at about 17:45 local time, a Lake LA-4-200-EP registered N8521Z, operated by Lake Aircraft, was involved in an accident near Bellevue, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 17:45
Classification
Accident
Location
Bellevue, Washington, United States
Coordinates
47.6096, -122.2094
Aircraft
Lake LA-4-200-EP
Registration
N8521Z
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Lake Aircraft
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Instructional
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Renton → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
SEA89FA068

People

2 people died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 2 0 0 0

Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON AND FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/SPIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) HAD BEEN TRAINING THE STUDENT, WHO WAS A CERTIFICATED PLT, BUT NOT SEAPLANE RATED. WITNESSES RPRTD THAT AS THE ACFT DEPARTED LAKE SAMMAMISH, THE ENG MADE UNUSUAL SOUNDS, THEN IT BECAME SILENT. ONE WITNESS RPRTD HESAW THE AIRPLANE SPINNING IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE, BUT DURING A TEST, THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NOT FIRE CONTINUOUSLY AT THE MIMIMUM ALLOWABLE OPERATIONAL PRESSURE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTENDED PROPELLER HUB IN ACCORDANCE WITH STC #SA4NE. THIS MODIFICATION EXTENDED THE PROPELLER REARWARD BY 4 INCHES. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 255 HRS SINCE IT WAS LAST INSPECTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Lake LA-4 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
21 Oct 1989 Lake LA-4
N1212L
Apalachicola, Florida, United States D'alemberte, Talbot S. Minor injuries -
3 Sep 1989 Lake LA-4-200
N1072L
Orlando, Florida, United States - No injuries -
14 Jun 1988 Lake LA-4-200
N6110V
Wantagh, New York, United States - Serious injuries -
4 Jul 1988 Lake LA-4
N6655L
Linden, New Jersey, United States
no coordinates
Walter FIL No injuries -
16 Jul 1988 Lake LA-4-200
N5033L
Candlewood Lake, Connecticut, United States
no coordinates
James A.marquis Minor injuries -
30 Jul 1988 Lake LA-4-200
N2883P
Montpelier, Vermont, United States
no coordinates
- Serious injuries -

All 251 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
18 Nov 1989 Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D
N3354H
Vancouver, Washington, United States - No injuries -
18 Nov 1989 Cessna 140
N2070V
Amboy, Washington, United States Larry Cahoon No injuries -
21 Nov 1989 Cessna 172
N63496
Bremerton, Washington, United States Flight Tech, Inc Minor injuries -
29 Nov 1989 Cessna A-185-F
N1920Q
Seattle, Washington, United States - No injuries -
29 Nov 1989 Hiller UH-12E
N9762C
Raymond, Washington, United States Glacier Helicopters No injuries -
11 Dec 1989 Aero Commander 600 S-2D
N1767S
Walla Walla, Washington, United States - No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States