Amateur-built LANCAIR 320 accident near Tallessee, Alabama, May 11, 1999
On May 11, 1999 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 320, registered N6111, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tallessee, Alabama (Reeves Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed during the takeoff to initial climb that resulted in the a stall and the inflight collision with the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1999 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tallessee, Alabama · Reeves Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 320 LANCAIR 32
- Registration
- N6111 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate a high speed, low altitude pass over the runway. During climb out the airplane entered a nose-up attitude followed by a nose-down attitude. A witness reported that the airplane entered a counter clockwise spin, and collided with the ground in a wooded area. A tree in the immediate vicinity of the impact point was damaged. A witness also reported that the engine continued to run at a high RPM rate throughout the sequence of flight events. Examination of the accident site disclosed the airplane rested in a nose down attitude at the base of a large tree. Examination of the airframe confirmed that flight control cables and control surfaces were connected. Examination of the airframe and engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or a component failure.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-260-EXP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 41A at 2:59 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,232 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MGM, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.