# Accident 20170727012639A: Aerofab Inc LAKE LA-4-250, Oshkosh, WI, July 27, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2017, 17:43 local time
- Place: Oshkosh, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9558° N, 88.4989° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9558&lon=-88.4989&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1400P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1400P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerofab LAKE LA-4-250 (registry code 5110320, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerofab-lake-la-4-250) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROFAB INC LAKE LA-4-250
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA287) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170727012639A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 27, 2017, N1400P, AN AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM LAKE WINNEBAGO IN OSHKOSH WI DURING THE EAA CONVENTION. THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE ON BOARD TWO OF WHICH DID NOT SURVIVE, INCLUDING THE PILOT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO PROPERLY CONFIGURE THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE TAKEOFF, THE WING FLAPS WERE NOT LOWERED TO THE TAKEOFF POSITION AND THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS NOT SET CORRECTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE CAUSING A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER CHOP LIKELY GREATER THAN THE RECOMMENDED TAKE-OFF LIMITS FOR THE AIRCRAFT. WINDS WERE OUT OF THE NORTHEAST, (040 AS REPORTED BY OSHKOSH AT 8 KNOTS), TAKEOFF ATTEMPT WAS MADE TOWARD THE NORTHWEST (AT 347) WHICH RESULTED IN A CROSSWIND ATTEMPT.  THE ATTEMPTED TAKE-OFF RUN WAS EXTREMELY LONG ALMOST .7 MILES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS PORPOISING DURING THE TAKE-OFF ATTEMPT, EVENTUALLY PITCHING NOSE UP CAUSING THE TAIL TO STRIKE THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTARILY LEFT THE WATER BEFORE STALLING WITH THE LEFT WING DROPPING INTO THE WATER CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN HARD LEFT AND THEN PARTIALLY SUBMERGE. THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE RELATIVELY QUICKLY, IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR RESCUE PERSONNEL TO FREE THE PILOT AND PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER CFR PART 91 AND VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN17FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA287), Jul 28, 2017: Aerofab Lake LA 4 250 (N1400P), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly configure the airplane for takeoff and his decision to takeoff with a tailwind in unfavorable water conditions, which resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic…

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.

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