Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ANC93LA118

TURNER LAKE, AK, USA

Aircraft #1

N2672P

LAKE LA4

Analysis

DURING LANDING ON A LAKE WITH A GLASSY WATER CONDITION THE PILOT DID NOT FLARE SOON ENOUGH AND DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE IMPACT WITH THE WATER.

Factual Information

On July 15, 1993, at 1104 Alaska daylight time, an Aerofab Lake Amphibian LA4 airplane, N2672P, crashed at Turner Lake, 28 miles southeast of Juneau, Alaska, during an attempted glassy water landing. The flight had departed Juneau sealane at 1100 on a VFR flight plan for the purpose of a pleasure flight under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot and the two passengers were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot said that he had set up for a glassy water landing over Turner Lake which had a calm surface with no wind. He said that he "landed about 5 feet before he expected." The pilot also said that he had about 60 hours experience in the Lake amphibian and had demonstrated glassy water technique with an instructor, but "not on true glassy water, only on choppy water." He also said that he had about 40 water landings in make and model.

Probable Cause and Findings

PILOT-IN-COMMAND MISJUDGED THE LANDING FLARE ON A GLASSY WATER LANDING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GLASSY WATER CONDITION.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

Get all the details on your iPhone or iPad with:

Aviation Accidents App

In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports