Lake LA-4-200 N5040L

Summary

On 9 May 1996 at about 16:50 local time, a Lake LA-4-200 registered N5040L, operated by NH Wing Civil Air Patrol, was involved in an accident near Sunapee, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 May 1996 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Sunapee, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Lake LA-4-200

Registration

N5040L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

NH Wing Civil Air Patrol

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Manchester → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96FA074

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. Factors in this accident were: the pilot's lack of currency in type and model airplane, and not following the requirement for the pilot to have a flight instructor onboard during water landings.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had not flown in make or model for 8 months. According to CAP regulations, in order to do water landings after such a lapse in flight time, the pilot was required to have a flight instructor with him. The pilot had called, reserved the airplane and gave the instructor's name who would be accompanying him during the flight. Witnesses saw the airplane land on the lake earlier and then saw an aborted takeoff attempt. His second takeoff attempt was successful and the pilot left the local area. The accident occurred on his return landing. A witness stated that he was surprised to see the airplane attempting to land because he did not normally see airplanes land in this area of the lake. Also, the witness stated that the winds in the area were strong and in the direction that the airplane was attempting to land, with 2-3 foot roller waves created by the high winds. He watched the airplane hit the water hard and bounce up approximately 10 to 15 feet. He heard the engine go to full power, at which time the tail of the airplane hit the water. The nose of the airplane pitched forward and 'pile drived' itself into the water. The airplane flipped and floated on its back for approximately 10 minutes. By the time the witness got into his boat and got to the airplane it was already underwater and sinking rapidly. The nonswimmer pilot was recovered later that day from inside the airplane not wearing personal floatation devices. The cause of death was attributed to drowning.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.