Amateur-built LANCAIR 320 accident near Temple Bar, Arizona, April 8, 2011
On April 8, 2011 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built LANCAIR 320, registered N320BB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Temple Bar, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not use carburetor heat in cruise flight while operating in an area conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2011 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Temple Bar, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 320
- Registration
- N320BB · no longer on the register · serial FB333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane was in cruise flight at 5,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when he observed haze ahead, and he decided to descend to 3,500 feet msl. The pilot reported that, at 4,000 feet msl, the engine began to lose power. The pilot stated that he cycled the throttle and then the propeller, but the engine power was not restored. The pilot then turned on the fuel boost pump with no change in power noted. The pilot said that he did not apply carburetor heat. The pilot said that, about 300 to 400 feet above ground level, the engine "finally reached what felt like near idle." During the forced landing, the airplane collided with an embankment. The regional weather conditions at the time of the accident were such that the route of flight was directly into a cold front with increasing moisture and relative humidity. A weather station about 11 nautical miles from the accident site reported a temperature of 32 degrees F and dew point of 30 degrees F at the time of the accident. These weather conditions were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. A postaccident examination of the engine found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely the engine began to lose power due to carburetor ice and that the timely application of carburetor heat would have restored engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,995 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 2,995 as pilot in command; 1,186 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 18, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 765 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 4, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,793 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 6:10 pm
- Destination: AEG Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 17 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from LAS, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.