Amateur-built LANCAIR 320 accident near Corona, California, December 30, 2002
On December 30, 2002 at about 7:48 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 320, registered N364M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California. 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/builder's improper maintenance procedure for reattaching a high-pressure oil line, which resulted in the oil line disconnecting during flight, followed by a loss of oil and engine seizure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2002 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 320
- Registration
- N364M · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The day before the accident the pilot/builder of the experimental airplane had installed an air/oil separator on the airplane. In the process, he had removed a high-pressure oil line from the oil cooler and then reattached it "firmly" with a screw clamp "as best he could." A taxi test was conducted with the engine cowling removed to check for oil leaks, and none were found. During climb out, at 6,500 feet, the engine lost oil pressure, and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing on an interstate highway. During final approach, the engine seized, and the airplane struck the roof of a motor home and came to rest on its belly. According to the pilot, the engine seized after the "hi presssure oil line to oil cooler was pushed or pulled off, draining all oil" from the engine.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,183 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,291 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: F70 Murrieta/Temecu CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CNO, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.