Aerofab Inc LAKE LA-4-250 accident near Auburndale, FL
On December 17, 2021, an Aerofab Inc LAKE LA-4-250 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Auburndale, FL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 17, 2021
- Place
- Auburndale, FL
- Aircraft
- Aerofab Inc LAKE LA-4-250 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 28.097°N, 81.807°W
- NTSB ID
- 20211217104419
Official records · ERA22LA090
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On December 17, 2021, at 1224 eastern standard time, a Lake LA-250 amphibious airplane, N1402C, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Auburndale, Florida. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) tracking data, the airplane departed from Lake Hartridge, Winter Haven, Florida, (near the pilot’s residence) about 1130. The airplane departed to the south, then turned north and flew about 25 miles before heading southwest toward Lake Arietta. The airplane flew over the center of Lake Arietta on a southbound heading, at an altitude of about 825 ft above mean sea level, at a groundspeed of 92-96 knots. The track turned slightly toward the west before the altitude sharply decreased. The last track data showed the airplane at an altitude of 450 ft msl and a groundspeed of 105 knots, descending at a rate of 2,500 to 3,500 ft per minute, near the southern end of the lake about 0.1-mile northeast of the accident site. A witness located on the southwest shore of the lake, about 0.1 mile abeam the accident site, reported that the airplane was flying toward his location, at a “fairly low altitude” as the engine was “making a sputtering noise.” He added that he did not see any smoke, flames, or other signs of distress. As the airplane continued toward his location, it descended at a steep angle and impacted the lake in a nose-down attitude. After impact, the airplane “came apa
Probable cause
A bird strike, which resulted in a loss of control while flying at low altitude over a lake.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
