Amateur-built Lancair Propjet accident near Portland, Oregon, June 15, 2007
On June 15, 2007 at about 3:58 pm local time, a amateur-built Lancair Propjet, registered N42EX, was destroyed in an accident near Portland, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of airplane control during climb for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2007 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Portland, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Lancair Propjet
- Registration
- N42EX · registry record · serial LIV-559
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed and opened for the personal cross country flight. After takeoff, the airplane was radar identified, and the pilot was issued vectors on course. The last transmission received from the pilot was about 1 minute 40 seconds after takeoff when the pilot acknowledged receipt of a clearance. Radar data shows the airplane climbing on course to an altitude of 8,100 feet mean sea level (msl). About 3 minutes 23 seconds after takeoff, the airplane began to descend and entered a right turn. The last radar return was recorded about 5 minutes after takeoff and placed the airplane at 3,300 feet msl about 1/4-mile east of the accident site. A witness reported seeing the airplane emerge from an overcast cloud layer in a near vertical attitude traveling at a high rate of speed. The airplane impacted in the backyard of a residence. Review of weather data shows that the airplane was probably in and out of clouds after departure until it passed through about 4,000 feet msl. After entering the reported 4,000 to 5,000 foot overcast layer, the airplane was likely in clouds until radar contact with the airplane was lost. The pilot was instrument rated and had accumulated about 158 hours of instrument flight time. He completed an instrument proficiency check in the accident airplane about 5 months prior to the accident. During examination of the wreckage no evidence suggesting mechanical malfunction or failure was found. However, the severity of the impact damage, which resulted in destruction of the flight control system and all flight instruments and avionics, precluded determination of the reason for the loss of control.
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: 1,385 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Walter XM601E (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HIO Hillsboro OR at 3:53 pm
- Destination: TWF Twin Falls ID
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from HIO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.