Lake LA-4-200 accident near Orlando, Florida, January 16, 2001
On January 16, 2001 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N12E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO COMPLETE PRESCRIBED INSPECTIONS THAT RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF A FUEL BLOCK DRAIN ASSEMBLY FITTING , CORROSION OF THE BATTERY GROUNDING STRAP AND THE SUBSEQUENT FLASH EXPLOSION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2001 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N12E · no longer on the register · serial 932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to start the engine when an explosion occurred. He stated that he did not detect any fumes prior to engine start. A crack was found on a fuel block drain assembly fitting and corrosion of the battery grounding strap was also discovered. Maintenance inspection procedures for the airplane requires a 30 day inspection of both the battery grounding strap for corrosion and the fuel lines for damage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,478 hours in all; 643 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,284 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2000; 30 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 A1B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 9:15 am
- Destination: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 100 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ORL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.