Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200 accident near Sparta, North Carolina, May 23, 1987
On May 23, 1987 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200, registered N8543A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sparta, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1987 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sparta, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200 LAKE LA-4- · all LAKE LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N8543A · no longer on the register · serial 1102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LDG AT A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP HE HAD LOCATED, AFTER BEING ADVISED OF WX AT HIS INTENDED DESTINATION BY ATC. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, HE OBSERVED A BALLOON AT MID-FIELD AND EXCUTED A GO-AROUND. DURING CLIMBOUT, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE FIELD AND CIRCLED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AS THE WX CONDITIONS DETERIORATED. HE SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED A LDG ON A GRAVEL ROAD WHERE HE OBSERVED WIRES IN FRONT OF HIM; HE ADDED FULL PWR TO GO-AROUND AND THE AMPHIBIOUS ACFT MISSED THE WIRES TO THE FRONT, BUT A WING STRUCK A UTILITY POLE GUY WIRE. THE ACFT SPUN AROUND TO THE SIDE AND CAME TO REST NOSE-UP AGAINST A UTILITY POLE. THE PLT TOLD A STATE TROOPER THAT HE HAD ATTEMPTED THE LDG BECAUSE HE FELT HE WAS GETTING LOW ON FUEL. LATER EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED APPROX 2 GALS. OF FUEL ON BOARD. NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE WAS FOUND. THE FLT ORIGINATED AT SALISBURY, MD AT APPROX 1135 EDT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 835 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 685 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBY Salisbury MD at 3:35 pm
- Destination: TRI Kingsport TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.