Aerofab LAKE 250 N811JG

Summary

On 20 February 2003 at about 19:06 local time, a Aerofab LAKE 250 registered N811JG was involved in an accident near Weirsdale, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 February 2003 at 19:06

Classification

Accident

Location

Weirsdale, Florida, United States

Coordinates

29.0025, -81.9353

Aircraft

Aerofab LAKE 250

Registration

N811JG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ocala → Weirsdale

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA03FA065

1 person died.

The inadequate flare by the pilot-in-command on the calm water resulting in the in-flight collision with the water and subsequent nose over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After departure the flight proceeded to Lake Weir where a witness who observed the airplane on approach to land on the lake reported the approach was smooth. He further reported that the airplane, "bump once on water then nose dove." A pilot-rated individual who was on-scene an estimated 10 minutes after the accident reported the water surface conditions as "glassy", "placid" and "...very little surface ripples or waves." The airplane submerged and came to rest inverted in about 13 feet of water. The engine with attached propeller separated from the airfame, but was recovered along with the wreckage. The engine with attached propeller was placed on a test stand, started, and found to develope full static rpm; no discrepancies were noted. Examination of the airplane revealed the landing gear was retracted, and no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the flight controls for roll, pitch, or yaw was noted. The on-board electronic tachometer was retained for readout which revealed the last recorded rpm was 2,600, which occurred sometime within 3 minutes of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.