Lake LA 4-200 accident near Fife Lake, Michigan, June 6, 1987
On June 6, 1987 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Lake LA 4-200, registered N80111, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fife Lake, Michigan. 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
- June 6, 1987 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Fife Lake, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA 4-200 · all LA 4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N80111 · no longer on the register · serial 1064
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH WHILE IN CRUISE FLT. AFTER ALL EFFORTS TO SMOOTH IT OUT FAILED, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON FIFE LAKE. THE ACFT LANDED NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE AND WATER STARTED TO ENTER THE COCKPIT. THE ACFT SANK IN 25-30 FEET OF WATER. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A SEA PLANE RATING AND ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE ACFT LOST POWER AND DROPPED 'ABRUPTLY AND SLAMMED INTO THE LAKE.' INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,210 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 8,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,357 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1987; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-AIB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAD Cadillac MI at 2:30 pm
- Destination: D83 Boyne City MI
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from TVC, 14 miles away
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.