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NTSB Report

April 30, 2002 · Lake LA-4-200 · N3121P

Headland, AL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 30, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Headland, AL
Aircraft
Lake LA-4-200
Tail Number
N3121P
Operator
Robert K Daugherty
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA02LA092

According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff on runway 17, he retracted the landing gear, and noted that the airplane "did not continue to climb." He turned away from a populated area, and headed back towards the airport. He stated that the airplane "did not appear to be developing adequate power and was descending. The pilot elected to keep the landing gear up and land in a soft plowed field, about 500 yards southeast of the airport. Upon touchdown the airplane's left float separated, and the left wing impacted with the ground. After the accident a test run on the engine revealed that the engine was run to 2600 RPM, and no discrepancies were found.

NTSB Probable Cause

a loss of engine power for undetermined reason resulting in damage to the airplane during the subsequent forced landing.

Full Narrative

On April 30, 2002, about 1345 central daylight time, a Lake LA-4-200, N3121P, registered to an individual, impacted the ground during a forced landing near the Headland Municipal Airport, Headland, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport at 1340. According to the pilot, after performing a pre-flight inspection he started the airplane's engine and practiced taxi procedures for about 15 minutes before taking off on runway 17. After clearing the runway the pilot retracted the landing gear, and noted that the airplane "did not continue to climb." He elected to turn away from a populated area, and head back towards the airport. He stated that the airplane "did not appear to be developing adequate power and was descending." The pilot elected to keep the landing gear up and land in a soft plowed field, about 500 yards southeast of the airport. Upon touchdown the airplane's left float separated, and the left wing impacted with the ground. After the accident a test run was performed on the engine from N3121P, and according to the mechanic's report, dated September 30, 2002, the engine was run to 2,600 rpm, and no discrepancies were found.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 CDT
Nearest AirportHeadland Muni (0.2nm SSE)
Runway17
Runway Length2848 ft
Runway Width162 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLake LA-4-200
Tail NumberN3121P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRobert K Daugherty
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1B · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 11 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Observation Time18:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data