Lake LA-4-200 N1051L

Summary

On 25 April 2006 at about 14:00 local time, a Lake LA-4-200 registered N1051L was involved in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 April 2006 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Wales, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Chalet Suzanne Air Strip (X25)

Coordinates

27.9547, -81.6142

Aircraft

Lake LA-4-200

Registration

N1051L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Wales → Bartow

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA06CA097

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff resulting in an overrun of the runway and encounter with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that during his arrival to the airport, on the previous day, he noted the center of the runway was sandy and soft due to the drought. Before the departure, he walked a third of the runway to check the surface conditions. He decided to stay off the middle and favor the grassier side of the runway; however, he knew it would be bumpier during the takeoff roll. He elected to depart from runway 18, which is slightly downhill. The breeze was from the west-southwest. He performed a soft field takeoff while staying on the west side of the runway. The takeoff roll was bumpy and noted the airspeed indicator reached 55 mph, the rotation speed was 60 mph. The airplane encountered a bump, the airspeed drop to 50 mph then increased to 55 mph. The airplane encountered another bump and the airspeed dropped to 50 mph and increased again. By this time, the airplane crossed a road located toward the end of the runway, struck a berm, which sheared the nose wheel. The airplane became airborne with insufficient airspeed to fly. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane spun 180 degrees, skidding backward before coming to a stop. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.