Consolidated Aeronautics INC. LAKE LA-4-200 accident near Orange, Massachusetts, January 12, 2025
On January 12, 2025 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 1976 Consolidated Aeronautics INC. LAKE LA-4-200, registered N8BZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Orange, Massachusetts (Orange Municipal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the left main landing gear to fully extend and lock for undetermined reasons as a functional test of the landing gear system could not duplicate the anomaly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2025 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Massachusetts · Orange Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aeronautics INC. LAKE LA-4-200, built 1976 · all LAKE LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N8BZ · registry record · serial 761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that while on approach to the destination airport, he attempted to extend the landing gear. The nose landing gear and right main landing gear extended and locked; however, the left main landing gear only partially extended. The pilot could not correct the anomaly by troubleshooting and using the emergency checklist. He subsequently elected to return to his home airport and perform a gear-up landing on a grass area adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage bulkheads and right wing. The pilot and a mechanic recovered the airplane to a hangar. Several days later, under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, they were able to cycle the landing gear five times with no anomalies noted. The mechanic added that perhaps ice interfered with the left main landing gear, but he could not be sure. .
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,394 hours in all; 251 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,214 as pilot in command; 355 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,936 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 2024; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390 (piston); 2,936 hours total
The flight
- Destination: EEN Keene NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 am from ORE
Weather report (METAR): KORE 121352Z AUTO 31005KT 10SM FEW031 M04/M08 A2991
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Main Wreckage
Photograph 2 – Main Wreckage Zoom View
Photograph 3 – Lower Right Wing Damage
Photograph 4 – Upper Right Wing DamageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record - FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.