Skylark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clearlake, California 95422
Wednesday, April 30, 1986 15:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) SAID HE WAS INSTRUCTING THE STUDENT IN HOW TO JUDGE A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH AND LANDING TO A DOCK WITH MINIMAL TAXIING REQUIRED. DURING THE APPROACH, THE CFI DETERMINED THAT THE STUDENT WAS OVERSHOOTING THE DESIRED TOUCHDOWN POINT, SO HE TOLD THE STUDENT TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. A NORMAL GO-AROUND WAS INITIATED IN ADDITION TO A RIGHT TURN. AFTER 8 TO 10 SECONDS ON THE CROSSWIND LEG, ANOTHER RIGHT TURN WAS STARTED TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT OUT TOWARD THE MOUTH OF THE BAY. THE CFI STATED THAT AFTER 2 TO 3 SECONDS IN THE TURN,' THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY BANKED LEFT, LOST ALTITUDE AND THE LEFT WING DUG INTO THE WATER.' HE ALSO STATED THAT THE LAKE WAS SURROUNDED BY HILLS THAT ROSE 3,000 FT OR MORE ABOVE THE LAKE LEVEL, AND THAT 'STRONG UPPER LEVEL WINDS, ROLL TURBULENCE AND SHIFTING GUSTING WINDS CAN OCCUR NEAR THE SHORE OF THE LAKE.' REPORTEDLY, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE FROM 240 DEGS, VARIABLE TO 290 DEGS AT 10 GUSTING 15 KTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/1986
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CLEARLAKE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95422
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKYLARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Q78
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1326
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1537
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 7 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31951
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N738JE
NTSB Number LAX86LA210
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17270007
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 Apr 19 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 3226
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID J. BOYNTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 425
Aircraft Owner City LAKEPORT
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95453
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BOYNTON'S FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 15000
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --