Lake LA-4-200 accident near Stow, Massachusetts, August 14, 1983
On August 14, 1983 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N80044, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stow, Massachusetts (Minuteman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 14, 1983 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minuteman
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N80044 · registry record · serial 1032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE PLT ENCOUNTERED A NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER & LOWERED THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE, SO HE SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. WHILE LANDING ON UNEVEN TERRAIN, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND & THE ACFT CARTWHEELED. AN ON SITE INVESTIGATION & A SUBSEQUENT ENG RUN-UP REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE POWER LOSS.
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: 375 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 271 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1983; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,800 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from BED, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.