IV Inc. LANCAIR IV accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, October 15, 2002
On October 15, 2002 at about 4:16 pm local time, a IV Inc. LANCAIR IV, registered N599L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate flare and his failure to maintain runway alignment. The pilot's lack of familiarity,downsloping terrain, and trees are contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2002 · about 4:16 pm local time
- Place
- Coeur D'Alene, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- IV Inc. LANCAIR IV
- Registration
- N599L · no longer on the register · serial LIV-469-SFB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1,915 hour commercial pilot, who had never landed at the destination and who had more than 100 hours in make/model, over flew the destination landing site in the Lancair IV aircraft. While descending northbound overhead the 2,206 foot long, 40 foot wide unmarked, asphalt runway he commenced a left spiraling descent to land on runway 07. On short final the aircraft's Electronic Flight Information System recorded the pilot pitching the aircraft's nose up to nearly +14 degrees and the aircraft's airspeed began to rapidly bleed off making it difficult for both front seat occupants to ascertain runway alignment. The aircraft then landed very hard and far right of centerline with the left wheel within 3 feet of the south edge of the pavement and the right wheel on down sloping gravel. The aircraft then veered further right off the runway as the pilot applied power for a go-around, with the aircraft eventually impacting conifer trees growing 30 feet south of the runway's edge.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,915 hours in all; 72 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,759 as pilot in command; 810 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 293 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 10, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO 550-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 1:55 pm
- Destination: Coeur D'Alene ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 070, 2,206 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from SFF, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.