Amateur-built BABY LAKES accident near Deland, Florida, January 27, 1996
On January 27, 1996 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built BABY LAKES, registered N26BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deland, Florida (Lafayette Landings airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude, while on final approach to land, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point for landing. The unfavorable wind condition (crosswind) was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1996 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Lafayette Landings · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BABY LAKES
- Registration
- N26BG · no longer on the register · serial 828-M-1020-B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he misjudged the wind, turned base leg, and noted that the airplane was not going to reach the end of the runway. He said he tried to stretch his glide, but before he could add power to stop the rate of descent, the airplane collided with the ground. Subsequently, the landing gear sheared off, and the airplane nosed over.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 487 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 384 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 78 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33J New Smyrna Bch FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 16, 3,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from DAB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.