Amateur-built LANCAIR 320 accident near Prescott, Arizona, April 12, 1995
On April 12, 1995 at about 11:25 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 320, registered N24KB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest J. Love Field). 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's failure to attain a stabilized approach due to an improper elevator trim setting resulting in an improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1995 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest J. Love Field · 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 LANCAIR 32
- Registration
- N24KB · registry record · serial 451-320-200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL VFR TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING A NEW WEIGHT AND BALANCE ON THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER FLYING OVER THE AIRPORT BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MINUTES, HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STABILIZE THE AIRPLANE ON THE INITIAL APPROACH AND THAT IT CONTINUED TO VIOLENTLY PITCH UP AND DOWN. HE EXECUTED A GO-AROUND AND REENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO STABILIZE THE AIRPLANE ON THE SECOND APPROACH AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SUSTAINED A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE REALIZED THAT THE ELEVATOR TRIM TAB WAS SET TO THE AFT POSITION. HE ALSO INDICATED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 7,341 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 63 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 1994; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,685 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRC at 10:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,408 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from PRC
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.