Lake LA-4 accident near Apalachicola, Florida, October 21, 1989
On October 21, 1989 at about 10:00 am local time, a Lake LA-4, registered N1212L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apalachicola, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
BINDING AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE #1 EXHAUST VALVE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE SOFT/WET (SWAMPY) TERRAIN CONDITION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1989 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Apalachicola, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-4 · all LA-4s on the register
- Registration
- N1212L · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT ABOUT 100' AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER. AN EMERG LNDG WAS THEN MADE IN A SWAMPY AREA & THE ACFT, WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE #1 EXHAUST VALVE PUSHROD WAS BENT. ACCORDING TO THE ENG MANUFACTURERTHIS RESULTED FROM A STICKING EXHAUST VALVE, WHICH ALLOWED THE PISTON TO CONTACT THE VALVE. THE VALVE STEM CAP HAD FAILED & LODGED BETWEEN THE ROCKER ARM AND THE OUTER VALVE SPRING ASSEMBLY.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 535 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AAF
- Destination: MSY New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.