Amateur-built Lancair 360 accident near Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, November 27, 2005
On November 27, 2005 at about 5:10 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair 360, registered N360JR, was destroyed in an accident near Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts (Martha'S Vineyard Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A 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
- November 27, 2005 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts · Martha'S Vineyard Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair 360
- Registration
- N360JR · no longer on the register · serial 501-320-241
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/mechanic had modified the newly installed engine, and the airplane received its airworthiness certificate on the day prior to the accident. On the day of the accident, the pilot/mechanic performed one flight in the morning, after which, he was observed making repairs to the airplane. The pilot stated to a mechanic at the airport that the engine was "running hot," and he thought the ignition timing was "off." After the pilot/mechanic completed repairs on the airplane, he departed for a second flight. During climbout, as the airplane approached the mid-point of the runway, the pilot stated, "juliet romeo return to base." The controller cleared the pilot to land, and the airplane impacted trees to the right of runway 15, resulting in a post-crash fire. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies, however, the engine accessory section was consumed by fire, and several accessories could not be tested.
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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,785 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rogers-Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MVY Vineyard Haven MA at 5:09 pm
- Destination: MVY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,504 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MVY
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.