Lake LA-4 accident near Linden, New Jersey, July 4, 1988
On July 4, 1988 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Lake LA-4, registered N6655L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Linden, New Jersey (Linden airport). It was an instructional 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
HARD LANDING DUE TO IMPROPER LEVEL OFF OF THE STUDENT AND THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. THE LEFT WING PARTIALLY FAILED BECAUSE OF OVERLOAD AND THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SWAMP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1988 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, New Jersey · Linden
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4 · all LA-4s on the register
- Registration
- N6655L · no longer on the register · serial 418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FINAL TAKEOFF OF A FULL STOP LANDING PRACTICE, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS AT THE CONTROLS BUT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT AS IT CLIMBED VERY SLOWLY. THE CFI TOOK OVER APPLYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF LEFT AILERON TO MAINTAIN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. AT THIS POINT, THE STUDENT OBSERVED CREASES IN THE UPPER SKIN OF THE LEFT WING. THE ACFT WAS ABLE TO CLEAR POWER LINES, BUT DUE TO THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN, THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD IN MARSHLAND. THE ACFT BOUNCED ON TOUCHDOWN AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY AS THE ACFT SPUN AROUND. METALLURGICAL INSPECTION REVEALED THE LEFT WING CONTAINED A COMPRESSION BUCKLE WITH UPWARD BENDING OF THE WING. THE INTERNAL STRUCTURAL MEMBERS OF THE WING SHOWED SIGNS OF OVERLOAD/OVERSTRESS FAILURES.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 252 as pilot in command; 14 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,062 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1988; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LDJ Linden NJ at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,493 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.