Amateur-built LANCAIR 235 accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon, July 20, 1996
On July 20, 1996 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 235, registered N235WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Grove, Oregon (Cottage Grove State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
release of the main landing gear locking mechanism for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1996 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Oregon · Cottage Grove State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 235 LANCAIR 23
- Registration
- N235WC · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll on runway 33, the left main landing gear collapsed as the aircraft was accelerating through about 55 to 60 knots. The pilot/co-owner of the aircraft reported that he was unable to identify any mechanical malfunction which have would allowed the left main gear to collapse. He also reported that the gear down lights were illuminated during the takeoff checklist. The reason for the release of the left main gear from the down and locked position could not be determined. However, a 5 to 10 knot quartering right crosswind existed at the time of the takeoff. Once the aircraft settled onto the left wing, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the aircraft slid into another aircraft that was parked off the runway.
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
- Flight time: 2,615 hours in all; 222 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 328 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 18, 1996; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 61S at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N235WC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.