Event CEN21LA294

Factual narrative

On June 28, 2021, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. Lake LA-4-200 airplane, N963L, was involved in an accident near Mio, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated that he obtained fuel at the departure airport. He checked for water in the fuel during his preflight inspection of the airplane and performed an engine run-up before takeoff. He stated that during the takeoff roll, the tachometer indicated 200 rpm below normal. He continued the takeoff, and after liftoff, the airspeed remained at 65 mph. He turned the airplane to the east to return to the airport. He checked that the electric fuel pump switch was in the on position and that the throttle and mixture controls were in the full forward position. The airplane descended and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane owner did not provide the airplane engine to an engine overhaul facility as requested by the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) assigned to the accident. The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and an engine run-up before departing on a personal flight. During the takeoff roll, the tachometer indicated 200 rpm below normal, which was an indication that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot continued the takeoff, and after liftoff, the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane descended and impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The low engine power indication should have prompted the pilot to abort the takeoff, which would have avoided the accident. A postaccident examination of the engine was not performed because the airplane owner did not make the engine available. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Powerplant parameters-Related operating info
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
• — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-(general)-Pilot