Lake LA-4-200 accident near Folsom Lake, California, December 27, 1995
On December 27, 1995 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N5LY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Folsom Lake, California (Folsom Lake airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the dual student and improper remedial action. A factor relating to the accident was: failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1995 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Folsom Lake, California · Folsom Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5LY · registry record · serial 474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student was practicing a confined area takeoff and initiated a turn to the right when the aircraft began skidding to the outside of the turn. The instructor applied right rudder, right aileron, and reduced the power to idle. As power was reduced, the aircraft suddenly came down off the step and settled into the water. The instructor saw the left wing tip descend into the water, and he responded by adding full power and leveling the wings. As power was added, the aircraft accelerated and lifted off. After becoming airborne, the instructor surveyed the damage and decided to return to airport. A landing was made without further incident. Substantial damage to the left wing was discovered during maintenance inspection.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,350 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1995; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q96 Sacramento CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from MCC, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.