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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2007
- Place
- Kernville, California · Kern Valley 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
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA07FA247.