Lake LA-4-200 accident near St. Petersburg, Florida, November 27, 1996
On November 27, 1996 at about 10:13 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N1109L, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Petersburg, Florida (Albert Whitted airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1996 · about 10:13 pm local time
- Place
- St. Petersburg, Florida · Albert Whitted · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N1109L · no longer on the register · serial 700
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the engine lost power while on approach to his destination airport, after 2.8 hours of flight. Postaccident investigation revealed the fuel cell to be empty. The pilot had topped off the 40-gallon fuel tank before departure. According to the available performance data for the airplane, as well as the pilot's recent operating experience in the airplane, sufficient fuel should have been aboard the airplane for the 355 nautical mile flight.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 998 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1996; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4A0 Stockbridge GA at 7:25 pm
- Destination: SPG Albert Whitted FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,677 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 16 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from SPG, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.