Amateur-built LEGACY accident near Lolo Pass, Idaho, July 28, 2014
On July 28, 2014 at about 2:53 pm local time, a 2009 amateur-built LEGACY, registered N29MM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Lolo Pass, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue fracture of an engine connecting rod, which resulted in a catastrophic engine failure and a forced landing in unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2014 · about 2:53 pm local time
- Place
- Lolo Pass, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LEGACY, built 2009
- Registration
- N29MM · no longer on the register · serial L2K-197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight in an amateur-built, experimental airplane when he transmitted a distress call. Two pilots in other aircraft near the accident airplane's location relayed the pilot's "mayday" call to air traffic control and he was subsequently heard stating that he had low engine oil pressure and that oil was covering the windshield while he was flying over wooded mountainous terrain. The pilot attempted a forced landing, but the airplane struck trees and then impacted the terrain. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed a hole in the top of the engine case near the No. 2 cylinder. An engine teardown revealed that the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinder connecting rods had fractured. The examination of the fracture surfaces determined that the No. 1 connecting rod fracture was initiated by a fatigue crack and was the catalyst for the engine failure. In addition, partial surface decarburization and surface corrosion pits were observed around the surface of the connecting rod shaft. It is likely that the decarburization and corrosion pits decreased the connecting rod's surface hardness, served as fatigue initiation sites, and led to the premature failure of the No. 1 connecting rod. Although some fatigue cracks were observed on the No. 2 connecting rod, most of the facture surfaces exhibited overstress failure; therefore, the No. 2 connecting rod likely failed after the No. 1 connecting rod fractured. Although the cause of the decarburization was not determined based on the available evidence, it typically results from a manufacturing deficiency. Toxicology testing of the pilot detected metoprolol and rosuvastatin in his tissue samples, and he had a history of high blood pressure and cholesterol; however, it is unlikely that the pilot's medical conditions or the medications he was using to treat them impaired his ability to safely operate the airplane.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,414 hours in all; 352.7 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 248.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 8, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor/Perf Eng IO-550 SERIES (piston); 248 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA at 2:55 pm
- Destination: BHK Baker MT
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MSO, 41 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.
Other NTSB records under N29MM 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.