Cessna 170A and Lake LA-4 accident near Giddings, Texas, October 27, 2001
On October 27, 2001 at about 2:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 170A (N4127G) and Lake LA-4 (N1139L), were involved in the same accident near Giddings, Texas (Giddings-Lee County airport). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the Cessna pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a collision with another airplane.
The failure of the Cessna pilot to maintain directional control while landing, which resulted in a collision with the Lake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2001 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Giddings, Texas · Giddings-Lee County · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N4127G · no longer on the register · serial 19240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Lake LA-4 · all LA-4s on the register
- Registration
- N1139L · registry record · serial 300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 170A final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the Cessna 170A, he had intended to make a full stop landing; however, while on final approach he realized that he was too high and performed a go-around. He then approached the runway a second time with the intent of executing a full stall landing. He stated that the second approach was a little high. The main landing gear wheels touched down first, and the Cessna bounced, came down again, and began to veer to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot applied full power; however, he was unable to regain directional control of the Cessna or attain a climb. Subsequently, the Cessna's right wing contacted the right wing of a Lake LA-4 airplane. The Lake was standing with the engine operating near the airport refueling facility. The Cessna then impacted steel posts that surrounded the airport refueling facility and came to a stop upright along an embankment.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Lake LA-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane, a Lake LA-4, was standing with the engine operating near the airport refueling facility. According to the pilot of another airplane, a Cessna 170A, he had intended to make a full stop landing; however, while on final approach he realized that he was too high and performed a go-around. He then approached the runway a second time with the intent of executing a full stall landing. He stated that the second approach was a little high. The main landing gear wheels touched down first, and the Cessna bounced, came down again, and began to veer to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot applied full power; however, he was unable to regain directional control of the Cessna or attain a climb. Subsequently, the Cessna's right wing contacted the right wing of the Lake. The Cessna then impacted steel posts that surrounded the airport refueling facility and came to a stop upright along an embankment.
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 for the Cessna 170A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 83 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 2001; 8.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX09 Fulshear TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 62H Giddings TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,998 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.48 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from CLL, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Lake LA-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,079 hours in all; 740 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,460 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 62H Giddings TX
- Flight plan: none
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.
Other NTSB records under N4127G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 FTW02LA024.