Amateur-built Lancair Legacy accident near Temple, Texas, March 8, 2018
On March 8, 2018 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 2008 amateur-built Lancair Legacy, registered N60JN, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Temple, Texas (Draughon-Miller Central Tx Reg airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the fuel selector valve in a nearly closed position, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2018 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Temple, Texas · Draughon-Miller Central Tx Reg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair Legacy, built 2008
- Registration
- N60JN · no longer on the register · serial L2K-263
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After leveling off at 9,500 ft, the airline transport pilot switched the fuel selector from the right to the left fuel tank of the experimental, amateur-built airplane. He noticed a change in the sound of the engine, a decline in fuel flow, and a partial loss of engine power. He switched back to the right fuel tank and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump, but this did not correct the problem. Realizing that he would not be able to glide to a nearby airport, the pilot made a forced landing in a plowed field. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel selector was found separated just below the selector handle, and the selector valve was found in the 90-percent-closed position. The fuel selector assembly showed extensive wear. It is likely that the fuel selector separated with the valve in an intermediate position when the pilot changed the fuel selector handle position, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the nearly closed fuel valve.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Not serviced/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 3,650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 29, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 310 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 2, 2017; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 309 hours total
- Operator: Airborne Legacy, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KAUS Austin TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: KDAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KTPL, 1 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 25, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Continental Motors, Engine Inspection Report, B60JN | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Fuel Receipt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.