Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-250 accident near Bullfrog, Utah, August 11, 1989
On August 11, 1989 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-250, registered N84164, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bullfrog, Utah (Lake Powell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A SUBMERGED OBJECT IN THE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1989 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bullfrog, Utah · Lake Powell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-250 LAKE LA-25
- Registration
- N84164 · registry record · serial 75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ATP PLT WAS PRACTICING 'SPLASH AND GO LANDINGS' ON LAKE POWELL WITH TWO PSGRS. HE LANDED TO THE WEST IN WINDS HE ESTIMATED WERE LESS THAN 5 KTS. HE SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING RUN, THE ACFT STRUCK AN UNSEEN SUBMERGED OBJECT, POSSIBLY A LOG FLOATING BENEATH THE SURFACE; THE ACFT SANK IN 130 FT OF WATER. THE OBJECT PENETRATED THE HULL BETWEEN THE RUDDER PEDALS AND BROKE BOTH OF THE PLT'S LEGS. HE SAID THE IMPACT SEPARATED THE CABIN FROM THE EMPENNAGE. THE FRONT SEAT PSGR WAS EJECTED THRU THE WINDSHIELD ALONG WITH THE SEAT, SEAT BELT & SHOULDER HARNESS ATTACHED. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN THE WATER. ALL 3 OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED BY A PASSING SKI BOAT. THE PLT WAS AIR LIFTED TO PAGE, ARIZONA, FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT. A POST-SALVAGE INVESTIGATION VERIFIED HULL PENETRATION IN THE AREA OF THE PLT'S FEET.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,994 hours in all; 387 in this make and model; 205 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 3,866 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1989; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,140 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Powell UT at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.