Amateur-built Lancair 235 accident near El Cajon, California, January 12, 2005
On January 12, 2005 at about 10:38 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair 235, registered N124JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Cajon, California (Gillespie Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath to avoid obstacles and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2005 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- El Cajon, California · Gillespie Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair 235
- Registration
- N124JH · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with an airport boundary fence about 500 feet short of the runway's approach end while on final approach for landing. A witness driving a pickup truck said that she saw the airplane cross in front of her truck about 10 feet above the ground going very fast and low. Immediately after the airplane crossed her path, it struck the airport boundary fence with its right main landing gear and impacted the dirt terrain beyond. The wreckage was about 500 feet from the approach end of the runway, and about 1,800 feet from the runway's displaced threshold. The passenger of the airplane said that this was her first flight with the pilot. She recalls that the flight was very pleasant, and the pilot did not express any concerns regarding the airplane or the environment. As they approached the runway for landing the pilot said to her "Do you see the runway? I will reduce some power for landing." Moments after that statement the airplane collided with the airport boundary fence. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a preimpact malfunction or failure of the control system or power plant.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 289 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 194 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KYUM Yuma AZ
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 5,341 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from KSEE
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.