Lake LA-4-200 N32DQ
15 September 2003 · Ashland, Virginia, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 15 September 2003 at about 22:30 local time, a Lake LA-4-200 registered N32DQ was involved in an accident near Ashland, Virginia, United States. 2 people were 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.
The record
- Date
- at 22:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ashland, Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Mayers Airport (VG24)
- Coordinates
- 37.7772, -77.4839
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200
- Registration
- N32DQ
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Ashland → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC03LA200
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to perform an aborted takeoff after he perceived a power loss. A factor was the unsuitable terrain the airplane encountered after it overran the end of the runway.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot was departing from a 2,000 feet long, turf runway. He reported that after becoming airborne, the engine or prop sound changed, and then he perceived that the airplane was slowing and settling. He aborted the takeoff, and touched down on the runway. The pilot was unable to stop before the end, and overran the runway. The airplane then crossed a road where the nose wheel separated from the fuselage, and came to rest in a pond. The engine was test run by the FAA at takeoff power for 5 minutes with no variation in rpm noted. When the propeller control was placed in the cruise power range, 2,200 to 2,300, the propeller tended to hunt, plus or minus 50 rpm. The manufacturer of the propeller governor tested the unit and reported that the rpm was set higher than specified. When disassemble, the unit was found worn, with sludge and some small particles trapped inside the gasket screen.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Lake LA-4 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2004 | Lake LA-4-200 | Cusick, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Lake LA-4-200 | Wilmot, New Hampshire, United States | Stephen Young | Fatal | 1 |
| 30 Apr 2002 | Lake LA-4-200 | Headland, Alabama, United States | Robert K. Daugherty | No injuries | - |
| 19 Sep 2004 | Lake LA-4-200 | Kolari, Finland | - | Unknown | - |
| 16 Jan 2001 | Lake LA-4-200 | Orlando, Florida, United States | George Kirby | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 2001 | Lake LA-4 | Mulberry, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Nov 2003 | Northam RAF 2000 | Nelsonia, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Cessna 172 | Chesapeake, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 2003 | Mooney M20R | Leesburg, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 May 2003 | Cessna 140 | Suffolk, Virginia, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 May 2003 | Boeing B767-300 | New Market, Virginia, United States | United Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Oct 2003 | Pfeifler EDGE-540 | Warrenton, Virginia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |