Lancair Evolution Turbine, N469KS: Accident occurred March 18, 2021 in Buckeye, Maricopa County, Arizona

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

https://registry.faa.gov/N469KS

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Accident Number: WPR21LA142

Date & Time: March 18, 2021, 14:27 Local

Registration: N469KS

Aircraft: DAVIS DAN B LANCAIR EVOLUTION

Injuries: 1 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 18, 2021, about 1427 mountain standard time, an experimental Lancair Evolution, N469KS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot, he began a climb after he departed on an instrument flight rules flight plan from an airport in Mesa, Arizona. As the airplane climbed through FL220, approximately 30 nm east of the pilot’s destination airport, the cabin door departed the airplane and impacted the horizontal and vertical stabilizer. The airplane landed safely in Buckeye, Arizona.

Photographs of the airplane taken by the accident pilot showed substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The cabin door has not been recovered.

The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: DAVIS DAN B 

Registration: N469KS

Model/Series: LANCAIR EVOLUTION

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: Yes

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KGYR,968 ft msl 

Observation Time: 14:47 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /-2°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: 

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,

Lowest Ceiling: 

Visibility: 10 miles

Altimeter Setting: 30.03 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR

Departure Point: Mesa, AZ (FFZ)

Destination: Oceanside, CA (OKB)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries: 

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 33.274105,-112.32525