CHI87DEM07

1987-06-06 · FIFE LAKE, Michigan, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

N80111 Lake LA 4-200 Minor

Factual narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH WHILE IN CRUISE FLT. AFTER ALL EFFORTS TO SMOOTH IT OUT FAILED, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON FIFE LAKE. THE ACFT LANDED NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE AND WATER STARTED TO ENTER THE COCKPIT. THE ACFT SANK IN 25-30 FEET OF WATER. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A SEA PLANE RATING AND ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE ACFT LOST POWER AND DROPPED 'ABRUPTLY AND SLAMMED INTO THE LAKE.' INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1987_CHI87DEM07.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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