Amateur-built LANCAIR 235 accident near Borrego Springs, California, June 29, 2021
On June 29, 2021 at about 6:35 pm local time, a 1992 amateur-built LANCAIR 235, registered N43KC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Borrego Springs, California (Borrego Valley airport). It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a crosswind landing which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2021 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Borrego Springs, California · Borrego Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR 235, built 1992
- Registration
- N43KC · no longer on the register · serial 124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing with a right crosswind, the airplane drifted left of runway centerline. The pilot applied right bank and left rudder control input, but the airplane continued to drift left. The pilot then increased engine power for a go-around, but the left wing dropped, and the left bank increased. The pilot continued to attempt recovery, but the airplane was too low. The airplane subsequently collided with the terrain next to the runway. The left wing and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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 control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,784 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,695 as pilot in command; 932 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 860 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 12, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-290 SERIES (piston); 860 hours total
- Operator: Infantryship USA, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KSEE El Cajon CA at 5:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08/2, 5,011 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from L08
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 22, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.