Lake LA-4 N1147L

Summary

On 23 August 2008 at about 18:15 local time, a Lake LA-4 registered N1147L was involved in an accident near Algonac, Michigan, 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

23 August 2008 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Algonac, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Coleman A Young Muni (DET)

Coordinates

42.6094, -82.5306

Aircraft

Lake LA-4

Registration

N1147L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Detroit → Algonac

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08CA298

Nobody was injured.

The amphibious airplane's collision with submerged debris during taxi for takeoff, and the resulting damage to the hull.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after departure he proceeded to a nearby lake in order to practice water takeoffs and landings. After landing, the water conditions became too rough to safely takeoff. The pilot elected to water taxi to a bay area near an island for smoother conditions. He stated that as he crossed near the southern tip of the island, the airplane struck a submerged object. He estimated the airplane's speed at the time as approximately 6 miles per hour. He steered the airplane toward deeper water; however, after about 3 minutes his feet were under water. He subsequently taxied into water about 3 feet deep and came to rest with the landing gear down. He noted that the airplane normally sat about 18 inches deep in the water. The depth finder did not alert him to the presence of the submerged object prior to the collision.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.