Consolidated Aero LA-4-200 accident near Moriches Bay, New York, September 3, 1982
On September 3, 1982 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Consolidated Aero LA-4-200, registered N80020, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moriches Bay, New York. It was a personal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1982 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Moriches Bay, New York
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aero LA-4-200
- Registration
- N80020 · no longer on the register · serial 1005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKING OFF, THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 1000 FT MSL AND LEVELED OFF. AS THE THROTTLE WAS RETARDED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING ON A BAY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A SUBMERGED OBJECT ABOUT 100 FT AFTER TOUCHING DOWN AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT PART OF THE HULL WAS PENETRATED TO THE FIRE WALL, THE RIGHT PONTOON SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUNK IN 5 FT OF WATER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,100 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 207 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ambassor Leasing
The flight
- Departed from: FOK Westhampton NY at 10:55 am
- Destination: FOK Westhampton NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.