Amateur-built LANCAIR IV P accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, July 27, 2003
On July 27, 2003 at about 5:45 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR IV P, registered N499R, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's premature lift-off before airspeed was attained resulting in a stall. A factor associated with the accident was a high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2003 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR IV P
- Registration
- N499R · no longer on the register · serial 101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was attempting to takeoff from a hard-surfaced runway in his experimental, homebuilt airplane. The airplane became airborne, and then settled to the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff attempt, and the airplane became airborne again. The airplane once again descended to the runway, and on contact with the runway, the main landing gear collapsed. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. Temperature at the approximately 2,000 feet elevation (msl) airport at the time of the accident was 97 degrees F.
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: 3,221 hours in all; 44 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 26, 2003; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental 550 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 5:45 pm
- Destination: TCY Tracy CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway VGT, 5,000 ft by 1,524 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from VGT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.