Lancair Company LC41-550FG accident near Kernville, California, September 1, 2007
On September 1, 2007, a Lancair Company LC41-550FG, registered N2520P, was destroyed in an accident near Kernville, California (Kern Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering in the traffic pattern for landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2007 · cases in 2007
- Place
- Kernville, California · Kern Valley Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lancair Company LC41-550FG · all LC41-550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N2520P · no longer on the register · serial 41076
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane approach from the south before aborting the first landing attempt. The airplane then made a 180-degree turn to the left for a second attempt to land on runway 35. When the airplane was abeam the approach end of the runway it began a left turn, followed by its nose dropping straight down before impacting terrain and bursting into flames. The airplane came to rest in a near vertical orientation. The airplane was certificated to carry 4 persons; at the time of the accident the airplane was carrying 6 persons. Calculations indicated that the airplane was being operated over its maximum landing weight at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies.
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: 789 hours in all; 214 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 221 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-550 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 11:21 pm
- Destination: L05 Kernville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2520P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2520P: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Lancair Company LC41 122 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Lancair Company 261 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-550 382 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kern Valley Airport · nearest airport
- Santa Monica Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2520P 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA07FA247.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.