Lancair Company LC 40 550FG accident near Middleton, Wisconsin, April 1, 2015
On April 1, 2015 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 2002 Lancair Company LC 40 550FG, registered N777XX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Middleton, Wisconsin (Middleton Muni - Morey Field). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2015 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Middleton, Wisconsin · Middleton Muni - Morey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lancair Company LC 40 550FG 550FG, built 2002 · all LC 40 550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N777XX · registry record · serial 40058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross-country flight the pilot said he listened to the automated weather report a few miles west of his destination and noted crosswinds at 17 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot continued the approach to landing and reported the touchdown was "uneventful," but during the landing roll a gust of wind rotated the nose 90 degrees into the crosswind. Subsequently, the airplane departed the runway surface and impacted a ditch adjacent to the runway, causing the nose wheel to collapse. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall.
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 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)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 229 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 6, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550N2B (piston); 271 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDC Prairie Du Chien WI at 7:55 pm
- Destination: C29 Middleton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KMSN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 1, 2015. 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 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Information - Kmsn | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 – Engine Mounts (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 – Structural Truss and Engine Mounts (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 3 – Airplane with Collapsed Nose Gear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.