Lake LA4 accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, August 14, 2020
On August 14, 2020 at about 9:18 pm local time, a 1978 Lake LA4, registered N2994P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near West Palm Beach, Florida (North Palm Beach County Genera airport). It was a personal flight 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
An on-ground engine fire, the source of which could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2020 · about 9:18 pm local time
- Place
- West Palm Beach, Florida · North Palm Beach County Genera · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA4 200, built 1978 · all LA4s on the register
- Registration
- N2994P · no longer on the register · serial 956
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The rear-facing engine was mounted on top of the cabin on the amphibious airplane. During the landing roll, the pilot opened the airplane’s gull wing door and a fire erupted from the rear of the cabin, travelling forward. The pilot and passenger egressed the airplane as it rolled off the runway into a grass area, came to rest upright, and was consumed by fire. Review of maintenance logbooks revealed that an overhauled engine was installed about 5 hours before the accident, which included a new fuel supply flex hose and oil cooler; however, due to the extensive thermal damage, examination could not determine the source of the fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,000 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 11,900 as pilot in command; 7,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 16, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 215 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,172 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 2020; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-260-A1B6 (piston); 3,172 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:20 pm from F45, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 13, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N2994P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.