Lake LA-4-200 N51DG

Summary

On 2 July 1996 at about 23:30 local time, a Lake LA-4-200 registered N51DG was involved in an accident near Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 July 1996 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Lake LA-4-200

Registration

N51DG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gilmanton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA138

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and nose over. The glassy water condition was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft nosed over and submerged in water during a landing on Lake Wentworth. According to the pilot, while en route, he decided to do a touch-and-go landing on the lake. He reported: 'The lake was calm. I entered downwind, and went through the checklist, using the manufacturer's card. Then when turning base, I again went through the checklist by using the card. On final I did a visual again of landing gear, flaps, trim, prop, and mixture. I trimmed the plane for a glassy water landing, when I heard the keel touch the water with a nice sharp slicing sound, and then a loud roar. The next thing I knew I was looking up from the bottom of the lake. When I came up to the top of the water, the plane was in pieces. I was shortly picked up by 2 men and a woman in a boat.' The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction. The nose of the aircraft was totally destroyed, and was held onto the main fuselage by hydraulic lines, and electrical wiring. The fuselage longerons were bent upwards. The tail of the aircraft was bent up and forward. There were several propeller cut marks in the leading edges of the vertical and right horizontal stabilizer.' Examination of the aircraft did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.