Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LA-4-200 accident near Blountstown, Florida, December 2, 2002
On December 2, 2002 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LA-4-200, registered N6193V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blountstown, Florida. 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 failure of the certified flight instructor (CFI) to maintain clearance between the wingtip and a water marker bouy resulting in contact with the wingtip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 2002 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Blountstown, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LA-4-200
- Registration
- N6193V · no longer on the register · serial 846
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane owner/pilot-rated student stated that after takeoff while flying over the Apalachicola River, the CFI advised him that he wanted to demonstrate an engine-out landing on water, and took the flight controls. The CFI landed the airplane on the water then applied power to takeoff. During the takeoff run and on step taxi facing a green colored buoy ahead, the CFI asked him what side of the buoy to go on. The owner/pilot-rated student stated that he replied the left side, and the CFI maneuvered the airplane to the left, but a portion of the right wing collided with the buoy. The airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right and came to rest. The airplane was taxied on the river to a boat ramp where the airplane was secured. The CFI advised him that the occurrence was an incident and not an accident, therefore; was not reportable. The CFI stated that the training flight departed from Apalachicola Municipal Airport with the owner-operator in the left pilot seat, and himself (CFI) in the right seat. The CFI demonstrated a power-off emergency landing on the Apalachicola River and while water taxiing approaching a marine channel marker, the aircraft encountered a rogue current or submerged object. The airplane was turned to the right causing the right wing tip to impact the channel marker. The aircraft was then water taxied upstream to a boat launching ramp where the airplane was taxied onto land and secured. The occurrence was reported by the airplane owner to the NTSB on February 19, 2003. The NTSB determined the airplane was substantially damaged and was classified an accident.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 13, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,717 hours in all; 28 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,532 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2002; 30 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: AAF Apalachicola FL
- Destination: AAF FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.