Lake LA4-180 accident near Folsom, California, October 18, 1986
On October 18, 1986 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Lake LA4-180, registered N1118L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Folsom, California (Folsom Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 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
- October 18, 1986 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Folsom, California · Folsom Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA4-180 · all LA4-180s on the register
- Registration
- N1118L · no longer on the register · serial 280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL CROSS COUNTRY PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON LAKE FOLSOM. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN SETTLING IN THE WATER THEN NOSED OVER AND SANK. THE PILOT STATED HE FELT THERE WAS AN OBJECT IN THE WATER THAT WAS STRUCK. WITNESSES HOWEVER, STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ONCE BRIEFLY, PULLED UP, THEN ON THE SECOND TOUCHDOWN, IT NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO ONE WITNESS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED WITH A QUARTERING TAIL WIND. APRX 12 MI NE, THE SACRAMENTO WIND WAS FROM 310 DEG AT 16 KTS.
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: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,241 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,618 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1986; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUN Auburn CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: Folsom CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from SAC, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.