Amateur-built LANCAIR 360 accident near Nucla, Colorado, August 12, 2013
On August 12, 2013 at about 1:00 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 360, registered N15EG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nucla, Colorado (Hopkins Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to extend the airplane’s landing gear before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2013 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nucla, Colorado · Hopkins Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 360
- Registration
- N15EG · registry record · serial 727-320-570FB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, shortly after departure for a cross-country flight, he noticed that the airplane's left main landing gear had not retracted. He cycled the landing gear two or three times, but he believed the left main landing gear remained down. After the last landing gear cycling, he reported that he saw three green lights, indicating that all three landing gear were in the down position, so he decided to land. Just after touchdown, the airplane slid to a stop. Although the pilot reported that the landing gear were extended and subsequently collapsed upon landing, examinations indicated that the gear were fully retracted upon touch down.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,825 hours in all; 705 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,698 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 946 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 2, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAIB Nucla CO
- Destination: KGJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 pm from KAIB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N15EG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.