American Air Racing INC LANCAIR IVP accident near Midland, Texas, June 29, 2024
On June 29, 2024 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 2005 American Air Racing INC LANCAIR IVP, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N451M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Midland, Texas (Midland Intl Air And Space Por airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 and verify landing gear extension which resulted in a wheels-up landing. Contributing was the increased workload due to several airplane issues that occurred during the descent in severe turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2024 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland Intl Air And Space Por · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Air Racing INC LANCAIR IVP, built 2005, amateur-built
- Registration
- N451M · registry record · serial LIV-367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was hired to fly the airplane to another airport following a pre-purchase inspection. The preceding pilot informed the pilot of several issues with the airplane including the propeller control and the cabin door. The pilot said he familiarized himself with the airplane and after about three hours of inspections and ground tests determined the airplane was in a safe condition and proceeded with the flight. He reported that during the descent to the destination airport, the turbulence became severe, noting that his head hit the cabin roof twice even though the lap seat belt was secured. The cockpit was loud and as he advanced the throttle after lowering the flaps 10 degrees, the cabin noise increased, and the propeller indications became erratic. Several engine instruments were giving erratic readings as well and the pilot was additionally concerned about the cabin door latches becoming loose in the turbulence. The airplane was operating properly and after a minute the propeller indications stabilized. All these events added to his workload. The pilot said that while approaching to land and after lowering the flaps, he reached for the landing gear handle, noting that these checks were performed in severe turbulence. He visually confirmed that the flaps were fully extended by looking out the side window and believed that he looked at the gear indicator lights but didn’t clearly remember this. He also did not remember shading the landing gear position indicator with his hand as he had done previously. During the landing, the airplane settled onto its belly and the airplane slid to a stop. He noted that after the accident, the landing gear handle and flap handle were both in the mid-position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. When the airplane was being recovered from the runway, aircraft power was turned on and the landing gear selector placed in the fully down position. The landing gear extended and locked into the fully extended position with no anomalies noted.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear selector › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,359 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 5,510 as pilot in command; 1,596 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550 (piston); 1,010 hours total
- Operator: Gemini Commercial Properties LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SLR Sulphur Springs TX at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16R/, 9,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 17 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KMAF, 58 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMAF 292153Z 16017G23KT 10SM CLR 36/16 A2999 RMK AO2 PK WND 16029/2139 SLP099 T03560161=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of airplane as it came to rest
Photograph 2 – View of bottom of fuselage showing exposed core materialThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Video of Checking Gear Extension | MOV file | Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.