On December 17, 2021, at 1224 eastern standard time, a Lake LA-250 amphibious airplane, N1402C, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Auburndale, Florida. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) tracking data, the airplane departed from Lake Hartridge, Winter Haven, Florida, (near the pilot’s residence) about 1130. The airplane departed to the south, then turned north and flew about 25 miles before heading southwest toward Lake Arietta. The airplane flew over the center of Lake Arietta on a southbound heading, at an altitude of about 825 ft above mean sea level, at a groundspeed of 92-96 knots. The track turned slightly toward the west before the altitude sharply decreased. The last track data showed the airplane at an altitude of 450 ft msl and a groundspeed of 105 knots, descending at a rate of 2,500 to 3,500 ft per minute, near the southern end of the lake about 0.1-mile northeast of the accident site. A witness located on the southwest shore of the lake, about 0.1 mile abeam the accident site, reported that the airplane was flying toward his location, at a “fairly low altitude” as the engine was “making a sputtering noise.” He added that he did not see any smoke, flames, or other signs of distress. As the airplane continued toward his location, it descended at a steep angle and impacted the lake in a nose-down attitude. After impact, the airplane “came apart and there was an immediate, explosive ball of flames and smoke.” Another witness saw the airplane flying low over the lake and reported that the engine sounded as if it was “struggling to develop full power.” He then saw the airplane in a climbing right turn and banking before he lost sight of it below a tree line. During recovery of the wreckage, bird feathers, subsequently identified as those from a turkey vulture, were found wrapped around the fuel filler cap on the inside of the damaged and breached right wing fuel tank. The carcass of a turkey vulture was found floating on the surface of the lake, in the vicinity of the wreckage debris field.

Figure 1 - Right Fuel Cap Location Examination of the airframe revealed no pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The fuselage area forward of the wing was significantly fragmented. The entire leading edge of the wing exhibited crush damage, as did the forward edge of both sponsons. Soot was present in several locations near the wing roots and both sides of the empennage. The empennage was separated just aft of the wing trailing edge and was damaged though largely intact. Other than the feathers found on the fuel cap/filler neck, there were no other bird remains found within the wreckage or other obvious indications of strikes or marks from impact with bird(s). However, there were no windscreen (or any side window) panels or sections recovered from the accident site, and no fragments of window were found within the wreckage. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the center section of the airplane to the ailerons, elevator, and rudder (and their trim tabs). All fractures within the flight control system were indicative of overload. Examination of the engine revealed no pre-impact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Two of the three propeller blades had leading edge damage/gouging near their tips. One of these blades had chordwise scratch marks from about mid span to the tip, the other blade exhibited a trailing edge “S” bend from about mid span to the tip. The engine’s crankshaft was rotated by hand, and crankshaft and valvetrain continuity were confirmed. The engine-driven fuel pump was impact damaged but produced pressure when operated by hand. No obstructions were found in fuel servo screen, flow divider, or fuel injector nozzles. The ignition leads remained intact. The right magneto produced spark on all towers when rotated and the left magneto was electronic and was not tested. All the spark plug electrodes were undamaged and appeared worn “normal” when compared to a Champion check-a-plug chart. The Office of the Medical Examiner, Winter Haven, Florida, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The autopsy report indicated the cause of death was multiple blunt force traumatic injuries.

Toxicology testing of the pilot was performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory. Carvedilol was detected in liver and blood. Carvedilol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure and is acceptable for FAA medical certification. Valsartan was detected in liver and blood. Valsartan (Diovan) is an ACE II inhibitor type antihypertensive used to treat high blood pressure and is acceptable for FAA medical certification.