Aerofab Inc. LAKE 250 accident near Mercer Island, Washington, December 1, 2000
On December 1, 2000 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Aerofab Inc. LAKE 250, registered N8551Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mercer Island, Washington. 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 failure to maintain aircraft control during a left turning step taxi to takeoff, resulting in a wing contacting the water during the step turn.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 2000 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mercer Island, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerofab Inc. LAKE 250
- Registration
- N8551Z · no longer on the register · serial 130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot began a takeoff run to the west, planning a left step turn and liftoff to the south. Just after starting the step turn, while on the step at a speed of about 40 knots in 'a normal left turn step attitude', and 'skidding and bouncing a bit to the right through the chop as is normal in the step turn', the pilot was violently thrown to the right, striking his head on the right side door post (despite having his seat belt and shoulder harness on.) He reported that he was heading about west to southwest when this occurred. The plane came to an instantaneous stop at this point. Investigators did not find any evidence of aircraft malfunctions occurring prior to the sudden stoppage in the water.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,328 hours in all; 813 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,228 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 2000; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,140 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AA1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.