Amateur-built LANCAIR IVP accident near Findlay, Ohio, July 27, 2014
On July 27, 2014 at about 5:10 am local time, a 2006 amateur-built LANCAIR IVP, registered N40941, was destroyed in an accident during approach (IFR initial approach) near Findlay, Ohio (Bluffton airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight fire for reasons that could not be determined due to the extent of impact and fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2014 · about 5:10 am local time
- Place
- Findlay, Ohio · Bluffton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR IVP, built 2006
- Registration
- N40941 · no longer on the register · serial 207
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane. Radar track data of the accident flight showed the airplane descending from cruise altitude en route to the destination airport. An approach controller provided the pilot radar vectors to the final approach course at the destination airport and then cleared the flight for an RNAV GPS approach. The pilot complied with all of the controller's instructions up to this point, and he did not inform the controller of any anomalies with the flight. Shortly after the pilot was cleared for the approach, radar contact and radio communications were lost. Two witnesses reported observing the airplane shortly before the accident. One witness reported that the airplane appeared to be intact but on fire; he was unsure of the fire's location. A second witness reported that the airplane appeared to be wings level and descending slightly when he initially saw it and that there appeared to be a fire near the rear of the airplane. The airplane subsequently descended and impacted a residential yard. The airplane was severely fragmented during the impact sequence and consumed by fire. A postaccident examination of the airplane wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. The extent of the damage caused by the impact forces and fire precluded a determination of the source of the in-flight fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during approach (IFR initial approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,654 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 661.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 3, 2014; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BIV Holland MI at 4:36 am
- Destination: 5G7 Bluffton OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 4,126 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from FDY, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.