Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200 accident near Channelview, Texas, January 6, 1997
On January 6, 1997 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200, registered N6203V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Channelview, Texas (Skyhaven 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
Loss of aircraft control due to the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind. Factors were the crosswind, and the muddy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1997 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Channelview, Texas · Skyhaven · 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 LAKE LA-4- · all LAKE LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N6203V · no longer on the register · serial 853
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll/taxi on runway 9, a 'severe wind shear' deviated direction of travel to a muddy portion of the sod runway, and the nose landing gear sunk 6 to 8 inches into the soft ground. The nose landing gear sheared off, and the aircraft continued for 70 feet until it nosed over and came to a stop inverted. The pilot reported the winds at the time of the accident were from 050 degrees at 11 knots.
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: 696 hours in all; 448 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 618 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,007 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 1995; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8TX7 at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 18 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.