Amateur-built Lancair 320 accident near Sedona, Arizona, July 13, 2002
On July 13, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair 320, registered N320DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal 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 inadequate compensation for a right, quartering tailwind during landing resulting in a loss of aircraft control and dragging a wing during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair 320
- Registration
- N320DM · registry record · serial 307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost control of the airplane on landing after encountering a right quartering tailwind, resulting in the left wing contacting the ground. Winds were from 160 degrees at 5-6 knots. The pilot said that after crossing the threshold of runway 3, a "burst" of wind hit the airplane's right side, lifting the right wing. The pilot added power in an attempt to stabilize the airplane, but the wind pushed the airplane "strongly to the left" and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane spun to the left, the propeller hit the ground, and the airplane skidded across the infield before coming to rest inverted. The pilot indicated that the normal procedures at the airport were to land on runway 3, which sloped uphill, and takeoff on runway 21, which sloped downhill, when the winds were less than 10 knots. Review of available airport information revealed no published special procedures for takeoff and landing due to the slope of the runway.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 813 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 5, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2001; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,685 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 4:40 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,132 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from SEZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.