Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE-LA-4-200 accident near Klawock, Alaska, September 8, 1989
On September 8, 1989 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE-LA-4-200, registered N2582P, was destroyed in an accident near Klawock, Alaska (Salmom Lake airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRCRAFT HEIGHT ABOVE WATER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A LAKE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE SMOOTH, GLASSY WATER SURFACE CONDITIONS ON THE LAKE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1989 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Klawock, Alaska · Salmom Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE-LA-4-200 LAKE-LA-4- · all LAKE-LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2582P · registry record · serial 875
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING A VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING ON A LAKE THAT HAD SMOOTH, GLASSY SURFACE CONDITIONS. WHILE TURNING FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH, HE MISJUDGED THE AIRCRAFT HEIGHT ABOVE THE WATER, THE LEFT WING IMPACTED WATER, AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED. ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER COMING TO REST, THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN WATER THAT WAS ABOUT 50 FT DEEP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,015 hours in all; 117 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 875 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kasaan AK at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KTN, 34 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N2582P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.