Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-4-250 accident near Medley, Florida, September 23, 1985
On September 23, 1985 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-4-250, registered N1401K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medley, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1985 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Medley, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerofab Inc. LAKE LA-4-250 LAKE LA-4-
- Registration
- N1401K · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON SEAPLANE RATED PLT WHOSE AIRMAN CERTIFICATE WAS UNDER SUSPENSION. ATTEMPTED A DOWNWIND TAKE-OFF FROM AN INTERMEDIATE POINT ON THE LAKE'S SURFACE. THE PLT STATED HE THOUGHT THE NON SEAPLANE RATED PLT/PAX ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE TAKE-OFF BY CLOSING THE THROTTLE AFTER STATING THAT HE, THE PLT/PAX, THOUGHT WE WEREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT & ROCK BANK AT THE LAKE'S EDGE & FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN OUT OF THE LAKE & UNTO THE SHORE.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 42 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TMP Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from MIA, 6 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.