Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200 accident near Sarasota, Florida, April 13, 2007
On April 13, 2007 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200, registered N8543W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sarasota, Florida (Sarasota/Bradenton Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during initial climb after takeoff, resulting in a forced landing, and an in-flight collision with transmission wires and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2007 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Sarasota, Florida · Sarasota/Bradenton Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200 · all Lake LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N8543W · no longer on the register · serial 1109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that no discrepancies were noted during his preflight inspection, or engine run-up before takeoff. He retracted the landing gear after obtaining a positive rate of climb, but was only able to accelerate to 65 miles-per-hour, and did not climb higher than 150-200 feet. The engine then had a loss of engine power, and the pilot maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing on a street. While descending, the left wing contacted three power lines. The airplane then impacted the ground hard. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.
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: 958 hours in all; 499 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 958 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,396 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-1AB6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KSRQ Sarasota FL at 3:08 pm
- Destination: KBOW Bartow FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 5,009 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSRQ
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.
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.