Lake LA-250 accident near Hamilton Twp, New Jersey, August 25, 1996
On August 25, 1996 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Lake LA-250, registered N8405F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton Twp, New Jersey. 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
A complete loss of engine power due to inadequate maintenance that contributed to a loose fuel line fitting, a fuel leak and subsequent fuel starvation. The uneven terrain was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1996 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton Twp, New Jersey
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lake LA-250
- Registration
- N8405F · no longer on the register · serial 56
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was at 2,000 feet when a complete loss of engine power occurred. The pilot attempted to restart the engine without success, and performed a forced landing to a farm road where the landing gear collapsed. About 30 gallons of fuel remained in the airplane's fuel tanks. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no external damage to the engine. When the battery was activated, and the electric fuel pump was turned on, fuel leaked from the main fuel line connection at the fuel injection manifold. Examination of the fuel line revealed that the fuel line nut was loose. When the nut was turned by finger pressure, it turned two flats (about 1/3 turn) before any resistance was noted. After the fuel line nut was tightened, an engine start and run-up was successfully completed. During the last annual inspection, in March 1996, two engine cylinders were replaced. Also, the fuel injectors were cleaned, and a fuel injector line Airworthiness Directive was complied with. The airplane had been flown about 37 hours since the annual inspection.
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, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,940 hours in all; 155 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1996; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,140 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MGJ Montgomery NY at 9:20 pm
- Destination: 7MY Mount Holly NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.