Lake LA-4-200 accident near Eastsound, Washington, September 23, 1983
On September 23, 1983 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N1251L, was destroyed in an accident near Eastsound, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- September 23, 1983 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Eastsound, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1251L · no longer on the register · serial 749
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GLASSY WATER DURING A LOW ALT MANEUVER. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES TO DESCEND FROM ABOUT 100 FT IN A FLAT ATTITUDE,TOUCH DOWN,SKIM ALONG THE WATER THEN THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE OCCUPANTS WERE RECOVERED BY A SAILBOAT. ONE OF THE 3 SURVIVED. THE ACFT FLOATED A WHILE AND THEN SANK IN 240 FT OF WATER. THERE WERE CONSIDERABLE BIRD FEATHERS AMONG THE WRECKAGE DEBRIS. ATTEMPTS TO LOCATE AND RAISE THE ACFT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,800 hours in all; 255 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 4,700 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 375 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 1983; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-260-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.