Pilot Is Not Seriously Injured

A LongEZ went down in a lake near Leesburg, FL Tuesday, but fortunately the pilot was able to escape with minor injuries.

Lake County Sheriff's Department Image

FAA data shows the experimental aircraft was on a personal flight with only the pilot on board. It went down at 2320 EDT in Lake Harris, according to media reports.

The FAA did not show any weather data for the time of the accident.

The aircraft is registered to Allen Dunlap of Leesburg, FL, and television station WTSP indicates an off-duty firefighter from the nearby community assisted Dunlap following the accident. He reportedly declined transportation to the hospital.

The Lake County Sheriff's office said that Dunlap told them the aircraft had mechanical difficulties before it went down. Authorities used infrared imaging equipment to locate the plane in the lake.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 539AD        Make/Model: EXP       Description: LONGEZ
  Date: 10/12/2010     Time: 2320

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: LEESBURG   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A LAKE, LEESBURG, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:          Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 10/13/2010

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov