Lake LA-4-200 accident near Apopka, Florida, December 17, 2008
On December 17, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Lake LA-4-200, registered N85213, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Apopka, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Apopka, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4-200 · all LA-4-200s on the register
- Registration
- N85213 · registry record · serial 1094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had completed two water landings to a lake and was climbing the airplane for a third when, about 200 feet above the water, he reduced power to simulate a "power out or reduced power landing." As the pilot "attempted to round out the glide for the landing," he could not arrest the descent and the airplane landed hard. The pilot took off again, then made a precautionary water landing to a full stop. The airplane and engine appeared to be undamaged, so the pilot took off again and made two touch-and-go landings to another lake, followed by a full stop landing. At that point the engine sounded "rough," so the pilot taxied to shore where he discovered that a propeller blade tip was missing, that a propeller strike had occurred to the turtle top, and that the hull was taking on water. Mechanics later changed the propeller, and the airplane was deemed airworthy to fly to another location for further inspection. A few days later, structural damage was found to cross-frames in the hull. Weather at a nearby airport, about the time of the hard landing, included clear skies and calm winds.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,799 hours in all; 116 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,686 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Apopka FL
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from ORL, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.