Amateur-built LIGHTNING XS accident near New Port Richey, Florida, January 7, 2026
On January 7, 2026 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2025 amateur-built LIGHTNING XS, registered N929XS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near New Port Richey, Florida (Hidden Lake 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2026 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Port Richey, Florida · Hidden Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LIGHTNING XS, built 2025
- Registration
- N929XS · registry record · serial 205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land the airplane on a 4,425-ft-long asphalt runway. During his first approach, the airplane was too high and he performed a go-around. During the second approach, the airplane floated for about 1,000 ft in ground effect before touchdown. The pilot applied gently braking initially, but then heavier braking as the airplane neared the end of the runway. During the heavy braking, the airplane veered left off the runway and onto grass. It traveled into a ditch before coming to rest upright. The forward portion of the fuselage, including the engine mounts, were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
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 area overshoot during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 737 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 628 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 9, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 43 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 25, 2025; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IOX-340 (piston); 43 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 4,425 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KTPA, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTPA 072053Z COR 21005KT 10SM FEW050 24/19 A3004 RMK SLP172 T02390194 56011
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA090.