Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200 accident near New Milford, Connecticut, September 24, 2004
On September 24, 2004 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200, registered N44LD, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Milford, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flair, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2004 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Milford, Connecticut · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 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
- N44LD · no longer on the register · serial 1007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing takeoffs on landings on a lake. During the flare, the airplane contacted the water, flipped over, and sank. The pilot reported that he intended to flair the airplane about 1 foot above water, however, he believed he actually flared "just inches" above the water. The pilot reported that the water surface had a slight ripple, and he had a good peripheral view of the shoreline during the approach.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 5, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Danbury CT at 4:00 pm
- Destination: NONE New Milford CT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DXR, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.