Amateur-built Lancair 360 accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, October 20, 2003
On October 20, 2003 at about 10:18 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair 360, registered N797RP, was destroyed in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Sky Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and subsequent inflight collision with rocks during forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2003 · about 10:18 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Sky Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair 360
- Registration
- N797RP · no longer on the register · serial 797
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 10 seconds after takeoff approximately 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine began to run rough. The pilot executed a 180-degree turn back toward the runway, and the engine continued to run rough. The engine then quit completely, and the pilot stated the airplane "dropped like a brick." The pilot stated he "pulled the nose up" and "couldn't see the runway," and he looked out the side window and saw the runway. He stated that within seconds, the airplane collided with the ground, and he blacked out. A certified flight instructor-rated witness observed the airplane on final approach and stated it was "low and slow." The airplane collided with a rock river embankment approximately two feet below the runway elevation. The wreckage came to rest in the grass above the embankment and a few yards short of the runway. Fuel was observed at the accident site. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction could be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 293 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 246 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 134.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 19, 2003; 0.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TN98 Knoxville TN at 10:18 pm
- Destination: TN98 Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KTYS, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.