N65717

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."