Amateur-built Lancair 320 accident near Ramona, California, December 24, 2005
On December 24, 2005 at about 9:10 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair 320, registered N320WH, was destroyed in an accident near Ramona, California. 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2005 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair 320
- Registration
- N320WH · no longer on the register · serial 449
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental airplane lost engine power while descending to the destination airport. The pilot reported a constant and gradual decrease in engine power after preparing for landing. He confirmed all of the engine controls were full forward and switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot attempted to land the airplane in a field but clipped a tree with the wing. When they came to rest in the field a fire engulfed the airplane. Examination of the maintenance records for the airplane revealed that mechanics had been attempting to troubleshoot a fuel supply problem in the days preceding the accident. The cause of the loss of engine power could not be determined due to the damage sustained in the post-accident fire.
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: 650 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 544.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-D1C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: IFP Bullhead City AZ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: RNM Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from RNM, 4 miles away
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.