Lake LA-250 accident near Jefferson City, Missouri, June 30, 1994
On June 30, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Lake LA-250, registered N1404Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jefferson City, Missouri. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot allowing the airplane to get into an uncontrolled porpoising situation. A factor related to the accident was the choppy water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jefferson City, Missouri
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-250
- Registration
- N1404Z · no longer on the register · serial 46
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE AND THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED ON THE MISSOURI RIVER FOR ADDITIONAL FUEL. FOLLOWING THE ADDITION OF FUEL, A TAKEOFF WAS BEING ATTEMPTED WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED ON THE CHOPPY WATER, BECAME AIRBORNE, THEN DOVE NOSE FIRST INTO THE WATER. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER ESCAPED THROUGH THE POPPED OUT WINDSHIELD AND WERE LATER RESCUED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE RIVER.
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: flight engineer, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AA1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: COL Columbia MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from JEF, 7 miles away
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.