Aerofab INC. LAKE LA-250 accident near St. Augustine, Florida, February 5, 1995
On February 5, 1995, a Aerofab INC. LAKE LA-250, registered N14032, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Augustine, Florida (St. Augustine airport). 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 IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE TURBOCHARGER INLET PIPE SECURING CLAMP BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1995
- Place
- St. Augustine, Florida · St. Augustine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerofab INC. LAKE LA-250 LAKE LA-25
- Registration
- N14032 · no longer on the register · serial 36
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE LANDING BACK ON THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THEY NOTICED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POST CRASH EXAMINATION BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED A SECURING CLAMP ON THE TURBOCHARGER INLET PIPE WAS NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND THE INLET PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE TURBOCHARGER. THE ESCAPING EXHAUST BURNED THROUGH THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE AND THROUGH THE OIL LINES TO THE OIL COOLER.
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: military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,528 hours in all; 2,407 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,528 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1994; 149 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,140 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AA1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGJ at 7:30 pm
- Destination: FD46 Frost Proof FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 6,939 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 18 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.