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Accidents · NTSB NYC06LA136 · Final report

Amateur-built Lancair 360 accident near Montgomery, New York, June 2, 2006

On June 2, 2006 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair 360, registered N360WH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montgomery, New York (Orange County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

A loss of control during approach for undetermined reasons.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 2, 2006 · about 3:00 pm local time
Place
Montgomery, New York · Orange County · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
Aircraft
Amateur-built Lancair 360
Registration
N360WH · no longer on the register · serial 307
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The instrument rated pilot was conducting a planned 20 minute flight in the amateur built airplane that he owned, under instrument meteorological conditions. Approximately 5 minutes after being cleared for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach, the airplane's radar target disappeared. There were no distress calls made by the pilot, and the airplane's radar track was observed to deviate to the right, prior to the last radar return. The airplane impacted terrain in a wooded area about 4 miles south-southwest of the airport. A wreckage path was oriented on a heading of 230 degrees, and damage to trees in the surrounding area was consistent with an approximate 60-degree descent angle. Examination of the fiberglass constructed airframe did not provide any evidence of obvious preimpact mechanical malfunctions; however, the highly fragmented nature of the wreckage was difficult to examine. No preimpact engine malfunctions were observed. The airplane's most recent condition inspection was performed about 1 month prior to the accident. At that time, the airplane had been operated for 1,024 total hours. It was estimated that the airplane had been operated for about 400 hours since it was purchased by the pilot. The pilot had accumulated about 890 hours of total flight experience at the time of the accident, and had logged a total of 189 "instrument approaches," which included several prior ILS approaches to the same approach utilized during the accident. The weather reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, was: variable winds at 6 knots; visibility 9 statute miles; ceiling 700 feet overcast; temperature 19 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 17 degrees C; altimeter 29.90 inches of mercury.

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; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 890 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: June 1, 2005
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,024 hours
  • Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2006
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,790 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 4N1 West Milford NJ
  • Destination: MGJ Montgomery NY
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 03, 5,006 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 9 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 700 ft
  • Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
  • Observation at 2:54 pm from MGJ, 4 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.