Dehavilland DH115 VAMPIRE accident near Reno, Nevada, September 17, 2016
On September 17, 2016, a 1956 Dehavilland DH115 VAMPIRE, registered N4861K, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight failure of the canopy and subsequent loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2016
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Dehavilland DH115 VAMPIRE 55, built 1956 · all DH115 VAMPIREs on the register
- Registration
- N4861K · registry record · serial 186
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that, during an air race flight, he heard a "loud bang," followed by wind noise and wind entering the cockpit. The pilot immediately aborted the race by pitching the airplane up and reducing power to idle, at which point he noticed that the right side of the canopy was fractured. The pilot added that he noted throughout the climb and orbit that all engine gauges displayed normal indications as he set up for landing. As the pilot established on the downwind leg for his intended runway, he advanced the power lever and realized the engine had lost power. The pilot realized that the airplane was not going to be able to reach any of the runways, so he chose to land in the open desert north of the airport. He conducted an engine restart procedure without success. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing with the landing gear and flaps in the retracted position. A majority of the right canopy window was fractured from the frame. The aft canopy frame had deformation damage as did the airplane structure above and aft of the upper portion of the right seat. Postaccident examination of the canopy and the reconstructed right window (about 79% of the window was identified and reconstructed) revealed no evidence of any preexisting crazing, scratching, or other anomalies that would have contributed to the fracture of the right canopy. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Neither the reason for the fractured canopy nor the engine failure could be determined.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 19,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 5, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RTS Reno NV
- Destination: RTS Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR16LA181.