# Accident 20001120036129A: Conaer LA4200, Iuka, MS, November 20, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 20, 2000, 11:15 local time
- Place: Iuka, MS
- Airport: Iuka Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.8001° N, 88.1901° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8001&lon=-88.1901&mi=10
- Aircraft: N65717, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65717-2003-03-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lake LA-4-200 (registry code 5110310, https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CONAER LA4200
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 23,350 total, 150 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA01LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA031) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001120036129A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) WHILE ENROUTE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED AN ENGINE POWER LOSS AND DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING STRUCK POWER LINES RESULTING IN AN AIRCRAFT LOSS OF CONTROL AND UNCONTROLLED IMPACT WITH TREES AND THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED WATER AND SEDIMENT IN THE FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILTER. (.4) ON NOVEMBER 20, 2000, ABOUT 1115 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A LAKE LA-4-200, N65717, OWNED BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL IMPACTED WITH POWER LINES NEAR THE IUKA AIRPORT, IUKA, MISSISSIPPI. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT-RATED PILOT AND AIRLINE TRANSPORT-RATED SECOND PILOT REPORTED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE MUSCLE SHOALS AIRPORT (MSL), ALABAMA, AT 1030. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE HAD FLOWN TO MSL FROM OLIVE BRANCH, MISSISSIPPI, A FLIGHT OF 50 MINUTES ARRIVING AT MSL AT 0950. HE STATED, "...DEPARTED [MSL]...WITH FULL FUEL TANKS (40 GALLONS)...5 MILES WEST IUKA...CRUISING AT 4,500 FEET, ENGINE BEGAN SURGING (FUEL PRESSURE FLUCTUATING).                                                                       TURNED ON AUX FUEL PUMP SURGING STOPPED FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE, THEN REOCCURRED, TURNED TOWARD IUKA...AIRPORT FOR EMERGENCY LANDING...INSUFFICIENT GLIDING DISTANCE TO MAKE RUNWAY...STRUCK POWER LINES ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM RUNWAY AND WENT INVERTED." THE PILOT HAD STATED TO THE FAA THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FUEL AT MSL. A WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE CUTTING IN AND OUT, BEFORE IMPACTING WITH WIRES. ACCORDING TO THE FAA INSPECTOR'S STATEMENT, INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM, AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED, "...FUEL LINE REMOVED AT FLOW DIVIDER...NO FUEL NOTED...FUEL CONTROL SUPPLY LINE REMOVED AT ENGINE FUEL PUMP, SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL NOTED...FUEL SUPPLY LINE REMOVED AT ENGINE FUEL PUMP INLET, SMALL AMOUNT FUEL NOTED ALSO CONTAMINATED WITH WATER...FUEL FILTER REMOVED, FILTER HAS EXCESSIVE CONTAMINATION, CORROSION, RUST, AND TRASH. FILTER WAS ALSO SATURATED WITH WATER...FUEL TANK BLADDER CHECKED, CONTAMINATED WITH RUST, CORROSION, TRASH, AND WATER...THE ENGINE WAS ROTATED AND HAD NO BINDING, COMPRESSION WAS NOTED ON ALL CYLINDERS...THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE NOTED TO THE ENGINE."

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA01LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA031), Nov 20, 2000: Lake LA-4-200 (N65717), Iuka, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to fuel contamination resulting in fuel starvation, a forced landing and the subsequent in-flight collision with a wire.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.