Thursday, July 29, 2021

Lancair IV, N26PD: Accident occurred July 28, 2021 in Indian Springs, Clark County, Nevada



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. 

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Las Vegas, Nevada

Plane Holding Co


Location: Indian Springs, Nevada
Accident Number: WPR21LA294
Date and Time: July 28, 2021, 09:00 Local
Registration: N26PD
Aircraft: KUYKENDALL CHARLES LANCAIR IV 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Ferry

On July 28, 2021, about 0900 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Kuykendall Lancair IV, N26PD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Indian Springs, Nevada. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot reported that, the intent of the flight was to reposition the airplane from North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada, to Roberts Field (RDM), Redmond, Oregon. While ascending through 10,000 ft mean sea level (msl), he turned on the fuel pump (as recommended by the Pilot Operating Handbook) and continued the climb. Shortly thereafter, smoke started to come out of the right side of the instrument panel. He conducted a visual scan of the instrument panel and did not see anything abnormal. He leveled the airplane and felt a deceleration, which he attributed to a loss of engine power. The instrument panel lost electrical power, and he initiated a descent to a highway for a forced landing. During the descent, the pilot turned off all electrical switches, except for the master
switch. He then used the landing gear handle to lower the landing gear; he did not hear the landing gear motor nor feel it extend so he was not sure if the landing gear would be down during the forced landing. The pilot then turned the master switch off and maneuvered between cars to land on the highway. The airplane landed gear up and slid to a stop after it crossed the dirt center median. After the airplane came to a stop, he opened the canopy and observed fuel spilling from the left wing. He exited the airplane and a post-accident fire ensued.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: KUYKENDALL CHARLES
Registration: N26PD
Model/Series: LANCAIR IV 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
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: KINS,3123 ft msl 
Observation Time: 09:40 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles 
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C /9°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.12 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: North Las Vegas, NV (VGT)
Destination: Redmon, OR (RDV)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 
Aircraft Fire: On-ground
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 36.563494,-115.61577 (est)


LAS VEGAS, Nevada — A small plane crashed Wednesday morning, July 28, on the side of U.S. 95 north of Creech Air Force Base. Witnesses say the plane burst into flames after the crash, but the pilot was able to escape unharmed.

Nye County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene. Deputies say the pilot declined medical attention.

Jim and Jennifer Kendrick witnessed the crash around 9 a.m. on their drive to Reno and shot the video. According to Jennifer Kendrick, the pilot escaped just as the plane caught fire. The unidentified pilot can be heard talking in the video.

“I’m okay, I just crashed the plane,” he said.

He told Jim Kendrick he lost power and couldn’t get his landing gear down.

There was nothing left of the plane except the engine.

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration have responded to the scene.

Nye County reports the crash site is near mile marker 2 on U.S. 95 in Nye County.

U.S. 95 was closed in both directions for more than four hours following the crash.

Traffic on U.S. 95 is now reduced to one lane in each direction. Lanes will reopen “in the next few hours,” according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

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