Lake LA-250 accident near Franklin, New Hampshire, October 3, 1992
On October 3, 1992 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Lake LA-250, registered N8549Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED TOUCHDOWN ON THE WATER WHICH RESULTED IN A PORPOISED LANDING. ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE PORPOISE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIRPLANE CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE WATER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE; THE GLOSSY WATER CONDITIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN WATER LANDINGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 1992 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-250
- Registration
- N8549Z · registry record · serial 115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST RECEIVED HIS SEAPLANE RATING AND WAS MAKING HIS FIRST SOLO WATER LANDING. THE PASSENGER SAID THE WATER WAS 'COMPLETELY GLOSSY.' DURING THE TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO PORPOISE AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE WATER NOSE FIRST AND NOSED OVER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 357 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 241 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,140 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lake Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH at 10:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:36 pm from LCI, 25 miles away
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.