Lancair Company Columbia 400 accident near Henderson, Nevada, March 5, 2017
On March 5, 2017 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2005 Lancair Company Columbia 400, registered N2516K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Henderson, Nevada (Henderson Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to land the airplane with a gusting crosswind, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2017 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · Henderson Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lancair Company Columbia 400, built 2005
- Registration
- N2516K · no longer on the register · serial 41069
- 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 and his passenger were cleared by the tower for the approach to runway 17R. During landing, "a violent wind gust without warning hit the airplane." The pilot attempted to recover, "when a second violent wind gust hit the airplane causing a wing to hit the ground." The airplane's left wing impacted the safety area between runway 17R and 17L and just beyond taxiway Foxtrot. The airplane came to rest in the same safety area about 45° left of the initial impact point and about 10 ft from runway 17L. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and rudder. The METAR reported that the wind was from 220° at 31 knots, gusting to 38 knots about the time of the accident. According to the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component was 23 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum crosswind component › Capability exceeded
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,729 hours in all; 1,350 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,729 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 991 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-550-C5 (piston); 1,018 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriaty NM at 10:30 pm
- Destination: HND Henderson NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17R, 6,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 31 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from KHND
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 29, 2017. 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 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.