Lake LA-4-200 accident near Montpelier, Vermont, July 30, 1988
On July 30, 1988 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N2883P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montpelier, Vermont. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION OF WATER AND RUST PARTICLES IN FUEL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1988 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Montpelier, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2883P · no longer on the register · serial 937
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE PROBLEM DURING A FERRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT KNAPP STATE AIRPORT IN MONTPELIER, VERMONT. HOWEVER, DURING THE APPROACH THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WATER AND PARTICLES OF RUST.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,495 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 12,100 as pilot in command; 4,365 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1988; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTV Burlington VT at 7:05 pm
- Destination: Laconia NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.