Amateur-built LANCAIR ES accident near Hurricane, Utah, March 19, 2022
On March 19, 2022 at about 2:15 am local time, a 2006 amateur-built LANCAIR ES, registered N4949B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hurricane, Utah (General Dick Stout Field Airpo). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of brake pressure on the left brake due to air in the brake line which, resulted in a runway over run and collision with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2022 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Hurricane, Utah · General Dick Stout Field Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LANCAIR ES, built 2006
- Registration
- N4949B · registry record · serial ES-180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane was not slowing as expected. The pilot firmly applied braking action with no corresponding slowing action from the airplane. When he and his passenger saw the departure end of the runway approaching, they both applied as much brake pressure as possible without any effect. The airplane departed the runway and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mount. The airplane’s brake system was inspected by a mechanic who reported that the left side brake functioned, however it had a minor amount of air in the system and may not have had the same working pressure as the right-side brake. The pilot reported that there were no other 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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Braking capability › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 137.5 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 22.3 in the last 90 days; 7.2 in the last 30 days; 34.1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 868.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-B2B (piston); 868 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 West Valley UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19, 3,282 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from KSGU, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSGU 190156Z AUTO 28004KT 10SM CLR 19/M09 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP164 T01891094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 28, 2022. 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 | Record of Conversation (Mechanic) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | 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.