Aerofab LAKE 250 N8551Z

Summary

On 1 December 2000 at about 19:00 local time, a Aerofab LAKE 250 registered N8551Z was involved in an accident near Mercer Island, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one 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

1 December 2000 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mercer Island, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.5603, -122.2208

Aircraft

Aerofab LAKE 250

Registration

N8551Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA01LA022

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a left turning step taxi to takeoff, resulting in a wing contacting the water during the step turn.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot began a takeoff run to the west, planning a left step turn and liftoff to the south. Just after starting the step turn, while on the step at a speed of about 40 knots in 'a normal left turn step attitude', and 'skidding and bouncing a bit to the right through the chop as is normal in the step turn', the pilot was violently thrown to the right, striking his head on the right side door post (despite having his seat belt and shoulder harness on.) He reported that he was heading about west to southwest when this occurred. The plane came to an instantaneous stop at this point. Investigators did not find any evidence of aircraft malfunctions occurring prior to the sudden stoppage in the water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.