Amateur-built LANCAIR SUPER ES accident near Winkelman, Arizona, September 1, 2015
On September 1, 2015 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2000 amateur-built LANCAIR SUPER ES, registered N74ES, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Winkelman, 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
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2015 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Winkelman, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR SUPER ES, built 2000
- Registration
- N74ES · registry record · serial KIT74
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot stated that, about 1 hour into the cross-country personal flight, he observed a "slight" loss of engine power and "fluctuating" engine exhaust gas temperature indications. Shortly thereafter, the engine experienced a significant loss of power, and the pilot subsequently chose to perform a forced landing to a rocky plateau, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Following the pilot's egress, the airplane was consumed by a postimpact fire. The engine was examined and disassembled following the accident, and it displayed significant thermal damage. No anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation.
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 (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,470 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 2014; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 620 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 8:20 am
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KCGZ, 56 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.