# NTSB MIA01LA031: Lake LA-4-200, N65717, Iuka, MS, November 20, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 2000, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Iuka, MS - Coordinates: 34.800056, -88.190078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8001&lon=-88.1901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50661 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50661/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA031 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,static (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot he departed with 'full fuel tanks (40 gallons),' and landed after a flight of 50 minutes. After spending time on the ground and not refueling, he departed for his home airport. He stated, '...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...[nearest] airport for emergency landing...insufficient gliding distance to make runway...struck power lines about 50 yards from runway and went inverted.' A witness heard the engine cutting in and out, before impacting with wires. Inspection of the airplane's fuel system, after the accident revealed, a small amount of fuel in the fuel lines, water, excessive contamination, corrosion, rust, and trash in the fuel. The fuel tank bladder was 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. ## Factual narrative 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." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N65717](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N65717-2003-03-25), registration cancelled 2003-03-25, S/N 619, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lake LA-4-200 - Registry model: [Lake LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/lake-la-4-200) (registry code 5110310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 619 - Airframe hours: 1070 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Steven Roddy - Registered owner: Ronald Otto [Reg Expired] - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2000, 20 hours before - Departed: MSL, MUSCLE SHOALS, AL - Destination: OLV, OLIVE BRANCH, MS - Airport: 15M, Iuka Airport, runway 36, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 23,350 total, 150 in this make and model, 14,800 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TUP, 60 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001120036129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001120036129A), Nov 20, 2000: Conaer LA4200, Iuka, MS, Substantial damage. (-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… ## Other investigations on N65717 (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 CHI89LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA125), Jul 2, 1989: Aerofab Lake LA 4-200 (N65717), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (ROUGH WATER) AND HIS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. 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. --- 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.