Amateur-built LANCAIR IV accident near Garwood, Idaho, February 26, 1998
On February 26, 1998 at about 3:50 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR IV, registered N109GF, was destroyed in an accident near Garwood, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after entering known adverse weather. Related factors were, the pilot's failure to follow the published IFR departure procedures, low ceilings and snow, and the pilot's lack of recent instrument experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 1998 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Garwood, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR IV
- Registration
- N109GF · no longer on the register · serial LIV-109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the experimental aircraft, who had been on an IFR departure in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), began maneuvering around the vicinity of Alpine Lake. After a period of between three to five minutes, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, descended out of the low ceiling, and impacted an unoccupied personal residence. At the time of the accident, it was snowing heavily in areas around Alpine Lake, and the visibility was estimated to be one-half mile or less. After the accident, a review of the pilot's log showed that he had recorded only one and nine-tenths hour of instrument time in the last year, and only one hour in the last six months. His log did not show any hours of actual or simulated instrument time in the model aircraft he was flying at the time of the accident. There was no evidence of any pre-impact engine anomaly or vacuum system malfunction.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,044 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1F5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: COE Coeur D' Alene ID at 3:45 pm
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1.2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KCO, 4 miles away
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.
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.