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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 16, 1987 · Lake LA-4-200 · N59FC

Grafton, WV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 16, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Grafton, WV
Aircraft
Lake LA-4-200
Tail Number
N59FC
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO87LA059

ACCORDING TO THE PLT DURING THE WATER LANDING THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED THE WAKE OF A BOAT THAT HAD CROSSED THE PATH OF THE ACFT. AS A RESULT THE ACFT BOUNCED ABOUT 20 FT HIGH. THE PLT APPLIED FULL POWER TO RECOVER; HOWEVER, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER. HE STARTED A GO-AROUND WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING THE SHORELINE AND THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT LANDING DISTANCE REMAINING ON THE LAKE. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE A POSITIVE CLIMB BEFORE THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO THE PLT DURING THE WATER LANDING THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED THE WAKE OF A BOAT THAT HAD CROSSED THE PATH OF THE ACFT. AS A RESULT THE ACFT BOUNCED ABOUT 20 FT HIGH. THE PLT APPLIED FULL POWER TO RECOVER; HOWEVER, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE WATER. HE STARTED A GO-AROUND WHEN HE REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WAS APPROACHING THE SHORELINE AND THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT LANDING DISTANCE REMAINING ON THE LAKE. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE A POSITIVE CLIMB BEFORE THE ACFT IMPACTED TREES AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLake LA-4-200
Tail NumberN59FC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1B · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time18:55

Appendix: Source Data