Lake LA-4-200 accident near Candlewood Lake, Connecticut, July 16, 1988
On July 16, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N5033L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Candlewood Lake, Connecticut (Candlewood Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 16, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Candlewood Lake, Connecticut · Candlewood Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5033L · registry record · serial LA-4-200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LA-4-200 MADE A TAKEOFF UNDER REPORTED CONDITIONS OF GUSTY WIND AND WAVES OF 1 TO 2 FEET. THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED WAVE HEIGHT FOR THE AIRCRAFT IS 1 FOOT. THE PILOT REPORTED HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF DUE TO A PERSON ON A JET SKI IN HIS WAY AND AS HE TRIED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT A WING DUG INTO THE WATER AND THE AIRCRAFT WATERLOOPED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS TWO PASSENGERS AND HIMSELF WERE RESCUED BY BOATERS AND THE AIRCRAFT SANK WITHIN 15 SECONDS. NO WITNESSES WERE FOUND WHO SAW THE JET SKI. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,425 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1987; 240 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Danbury CT at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 11N New Milford CT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.