Lake LA-4-200 accident near Girdwood, Alaska, September 3, 2019
On September 3, 2019 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1970 Lake LA-4-200, registered N6672L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Girdwood, Alaska (Girdwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control while landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2019 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Girdwood, Alaska · Girdwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200, built 1970 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N6672L · no longer on the register · serial 435
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the landing gear and flaps failed to retract after departure. After verifying that the hydraulic pump circuit breaker had not opened and noting that the hydraulic pressure gauge indicated zero, he was able to successfully retract both the landing gear and wing flaps using the emergency hydraulic hand pump. Upon arrival at his destination, he again used the hand pump to extend both the landing gear and wing flaps. After touchdown, he applied the wheel brakes in an effort to slow and steer the airplane, but the airplane did not slow down. The airplane exited the side of the runway, proceeded down an embankment, and came to rest on its left wing and hull sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the brake and flight control systems revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Although the pilot reported the failure of the airplane's landing gear and wing flap hydraulic system, it was independent of the brake system and therefore was not examined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,438 hours in all; 756 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,380 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 7, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,333.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 A1B6 (piston); 528 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK
- Destination: AQY Girdwood AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,095 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC19LA051.