Amateur-built XLT-RG accident near Banning, California, November 23, 2022
On November 23, 2022 at about 2:24 am local time, a 2003 amateur-built XLT-RG, registered N101BH, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Banning, California (Banning Muni airport). 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
An inflight engine fire for reasons that could not be determined that resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 2022 · about 2:24 am local time
- Place
- Banning, California · Banning Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built XLT-RG, built 2003
- Registration
- N101BH · registry record · serial 01
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Multiple witnesses observed fire and a trail of smoke coming from the rear of the experimental, amateur-built airplane as it flew overhead; the airplane was equipped with a rear-mounted engine. The airplane appeared to be in a level flight attitude and the fire progressively worsened as it continued toward a nearby airport. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground about 11/2 miles northeast of the airport, where most of the airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the inflight fire likely started near the turbocharger; however, the exact origin could not be determined due to damage from the inflight and postcrash fires. There were no other mechanical malfunctions or failures identified during the postaccident examination 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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,300 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-EXP (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 27AZ Aguila AZ at 6:09 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KPSP, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPSP 230253Z 32005KT 10SM CLR 16/M09 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP181 T01561089 51009=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on November 26, 2024. 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 | Witness Statements | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Site Examination Report | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Video File | video | View Download |
| 5 | Video - Nkroll Dashcam | MOV file | Download |
| 6 | Video - Nkroll DASHCAM1 | MOV file | Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Medical Factual | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Fire Factual Report | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 10 | ADS-B Kmz File | map file | Download |
| 11 | ADS-B Xlsx File | spreadsheet | 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.