Lake LA250 accident near Laconia, New Hampshire, October 6, 2003
On October 6, 2003 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Lake LA250, registered N64SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Laconia, New Hampshire (Laconia Municipal airport). It was a ferry 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 pilot's improper starting procedure. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in make and model airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2003 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Laconia, New Hampshire · Laconia Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA250
- Registration
- N64SF · registry record · serial 112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the pilot attempted to start the engine, it became flooded. The pilot placed the throttle control lever in the "full forward" position, the propeller control lever to the "full forward" position, and the mixture control lever to the "idle cutoff" position. The engine started on the second attempt, and as the pilot pushed the mixture control lever to the "rich" position, the engine went immediately to full power. The pilot attempted to pull the throttle control lever back; however, he pulled the propeller control lever instead. The airplane began to roll forward, and pilot applied full braking. The pilot was unsuccessful in stopping the airplane, and it struck three parked airplanes before the engine stopped. Examination of the airplane revealed the throttle control lever was in the "full forward" position, the propeller control lever in the "full aft" position, and the mixture control lever in the "idle cutoff" position. No anomalies were noted with the throttle linkage or the braking system. According to the airplane's flight manual, the flooded start procedure included, "Clear by operating starter for 5 seconds with mixture at idle cutoff, throttle open, then use normal starting procedure. The normal starting procedure required that the throttle be "OPEN 1/8 TRAVEL." The pilot reported about 150 hours of experience in make and model airplane, none of which were in the preceding 90 days.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,700 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 66 in the last 30 days; 22,550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming N/A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH
- Destination: ORF Norfolk VA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from LCI
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.
Other NTSB records under N64SF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.