Lancair LC41 accident near Cleburne, Texas, May 30, 2019
On May 30, 2019 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2005 Lancair LC41, registered N2514F, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Cleburne, Texas. It was a business 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
A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation as the result of the oil pressure switch failure due to a manufacturing defect.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2019 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cleburne, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lancair LC41 550FG, built 2005
- Registration
- N2514F · registry record · serial 41093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on a maintenance test flight in the airplane to break in an engine cylinder, which had just been replaced. During the flight, the pilot noticed an oil pressure warning light illuminate, followed by a low oil temperature indication. The pilot attempted to divert to a nearby airport; however, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and he conducted a forced landing, during which the wings sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed a hole in the engine case above the No. 4 cylinder. Further examination revealed that the engine oil pressure switch had separated into two pieces . A detailed examination of the switch found that it had failed at a manufacturing swaged joint between its threaded section and cap piece. Therefore, it is likely that the swaging process was insufficient during manufacture. The broken switch allowed engine oil to escape the system, resulting in oil starvation and failure of the No. 4 cylinder.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Organizational issues › Development › Manufacture/production › (general) › Manufacturer
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Engine oil indicating system › Failure
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › Pressure › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,019 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 233 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 5, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,090.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-C(5) (piston); 1,090 hours total
- Operator: Van Bortel Aircraft, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: GKY Arlington TX
- Destination: GKY Arlington TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KCPT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 28, 2020. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo Lab | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.