Amateur-built Lancair IV-P accident near Mesa, Arizona, April 23, 2008
On April 23, 2008 at about 2:09 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair IV-P, registered N25CL, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field Airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during climb out resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2008 · about 2:09 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair IV-P
- Registration
- N25CL · no longer on the register · serial LIV-242-SFB-P
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Air traffic controllers reported that shortly after takeoff, about the time the landing gear was being retracted, they observed smoke trailing from the airplane. The controller advised the pilot of the smoke, but did not receive a response. Additional witnesses reported that the airplane made an abrupt climbing left turn with the wings rocking back and forth before it nosed down and descended in a near-vertical attitude to ground impact. All flight control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site and all airplane components were found in the immediate area of the impact location. Due to fire and thermal damage to the majority of the composite airframe structure, establishment of control continuity was not possible. Teardown inspection of the engine did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. Investigators were unable to determine the cause or origin of the reported smoke during departure.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 580 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 978.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 2008; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Boehle Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 2:09 pm
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22L, 5,101 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from FFZ, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.