Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gold Bar, Washington 98251
Sunday, April 4, 1993 16:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND SUBMERGED IN 40 FT OF WATER AND APPROXIMATELY 40 FT FROM SHORE ON THE NE END OF LAKE ISABEL. IMPACT DAMAGE WAS INDICATIVE OF A NEAR-VERTICAL NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE AT IMPACT. THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN RISES RAPIDLY ON ALL SIDES OF THE LAKE, AND THE LAKE NARROWS TO APPROXIMATELY 530 FT WIDE AT THE NE END. THE PILOT'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN TAUGHT TO CIRCLE THE LAKE A FEW TIMES BEFORE LANDING TO ASSESS THE WATER CONDITIONS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A WATER LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City GOLD BAR
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98251
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 722
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 6 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2020
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50577
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39375
NTSB Number SEA93FA091
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LAKE
Aircraft Model LA-4-200
Aircraft Series Identifier LA-4-200
Aircraft Serial Number 525
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 8 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 23
Airframe Hours 1595
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HELGESON, ROBERT C.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 202 SW 321
Aircraft Owner City FEDERAL WAY
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98023
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HELGESON, ROBERT C.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 202 SW 321
Operator City FEDERAL WAY
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98023
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City LAKE STEVENS
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --