Aerofab Inc. Lake Seawolf accident near Frostproof, Florida, November 16, 2000
On November 16, 2000 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Aerofab Inc. Lake Seawolf, registered N65RF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frostproof, Florida. It was an instructional flight under public-use (government) rules. 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 failure of the instructor pilot and dual student to begin the water takeoff with adequate clearance from the lake shore for the dual student to complete the takeoff and the failure of the instructor pilot to recognize in a timely manner during the takeoff that there was not adequate clearance from the lake shore to complete the takeoff and abort the takeoff, resulting in the airplane colliding with the terrain near the lake shore and coming to rest in a field about 900 feet inland from the lake shore.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2000 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Frostproof, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerofab Inc. Lake Seawolf
- Registration
- N65RF · registry record · serial 127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft operator reported that after takeoff from MacDill AFB, the flight proceeded to Lake Hancock, where four takeoffs and landings were performed. The flight then proceeded to Bartow, Florida, where the airplane was refueled. The flight departed Bartow at 1100 and proceeded to Lake Buffum. A landing was performed on Lake Buffum followed by a short back taxi prior to commencing takeoff. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane from the dual student during the takeoff run as the airplane approached the end of the lake. The airplane was flying in ground effect when it crossed the edge of the lake, skid 60 feet up a gradual grass slope and launched approximately 4 feet off the ground. The airplane flew 349 feet at this altitude, clearing 2 barbed wire fences and crossing under power lines. The airplane clipped the top of a third barbed wire fence. The airplane started to lightly drag its tail traveling for 152 feet in this manner. The airplane got back into the air for 130 feet in time to clear a 56 foot wide ditch. The instructor pilot, seeing a flat field ahead and realizing the airplane was not going to climb, cut the power and set the airplane down. The airplane skid on its belly for 251 feet. The wave height in the lake was estimated at 10 inches, the wind was out of the southeast at 12 knots, and the takeoff was to the east-southeast. The aircraft operator reported they found no mechanical problems with the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, or propeller after the accident.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,412 hours in all; 132 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 200 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,255 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AA1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOW Bartow FL at 4:00 pm
- Destination: KMCF Macdill Afb FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from BOW, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.