Aerofab Inc LAKE LA 4 250 accident near Oshkosh, WI
On July 28, 2017, an Aerofab Inc LAKE LA 4 250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Oshkosh, WI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 28, 2017
- Place
- Oshkosh, WI
- Aircraft
- Aerofab Inc LAKE LA 4 250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 43.956°N, 88.499°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170728X85948
Official records · CEN17FA287
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Record of Communication - Lake Instructor: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 27, 2017, at 1943 central daylight time, an Aerofab, Inc., Lake LA-4-250 amphibious airplane, N1400P, was substantially damaged when it impacted water during takeoff from Vette/Blust Seaplane Base (96WI), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and the pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was owned by the pilot who was operating it under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site about the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Southwest Regional Airport, Marshall, Minnesota. The harbormaster and the chairman of the seaplane base both provided statements that indicated that the airplane arrived at 96WI about 1230 on the day of the accident. After landing, the pilot requested assistance during taxi because the left wing sponson was taking on water. Boats were used to tow the airplane to the seabase. The pilot and two passengers departed the seaplane base and returned about 2 hours later. Around 1430 the pilot was taken to his airplane while it was moored in the bay. He started the engine while the airplane was stilled tied to a mooring plug and the airplane began to turn in a circle. When the volunteer boat crew stopped him and asked what he was trying to do he was very argumentative and said, "you can't prevent me from leaving with my aircraft." The volunteer proceeded to explain
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly configure the airplane for takeoff and his decision to takeoff with a tailwind in unfavorable water conditions, which resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall and the pilot losing control.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
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Browse: Wisconsin
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
