Lake LA-4-200 N5023L

Summary

On 28 April 2000 at about 20:15 local time, a Lake LA-4-200 registered N5023L, operated by Kenneth L. Clark, was involved in an accident near Claremore, Oklahoma, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 April 2000 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Claremore, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Avian County Estates (NONE)

Coordinates

36.3098, -95.6098

Aircraft

Lake LA-4-200

Registration

N5023L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth L. Clark

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA133

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's premature raising of the flaps.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the demonstration flight, the pilot-in-command (PIC)/airplane owner occupied the right front seat, and the prospective buyer occupied the left front seat. After circling the airport to confirm wind sock position and that the 2,400-foot grass runway was clear of obstructions, a pattern entry was made for landing to the south. On final approach, the pilots noted that the airplane was low on the approach, and the left seat pilot added power. Subsequently, the airplane was too far down the runway and the airspeed was too fast for the landing. The PIC called for a go-around, and the left seat pilot added full power. The airplane flew in ground effect, about 5 feet agl, for several hundred feet. Subsequently, the airplane climbed to about 20 feet agl, and the left seat pilot retracted the landing gear. The PIC raised the flaps, and the airplane settled to 5 to 10 feet agl and impacted a fence and trees. During a post accident compression check of the engine, the prospective buyer and his mechanic found that the #2 intake valve was leaking.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.