# Accident 20170228005449A: Sonex LAVENDER, ALAN P, Methuen, MA, February 28, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2017, 13:20 local time
- Place: Methuen, MA
- Airport: Lawrence Municipal
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7228° N, 71.1358° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7228&lon=-71.1358&mi=10
- Aircraft: N315AL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N315AL-2017-09-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lavender Alan P SONEX (registry code 056336O, https://openairdocs.org/model/lavender-alan-p-sonex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300L (registry code 34811, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SONEX LAVENDER, ALAN P
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA117) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170228005449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

N315AL PILOTED BY ALAN LAVENDER DEPARTED RUNWAY 14 AT LAWRENCE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT 1759Z.  MR. LAVENDER ENTERED INTO LEFT CLOSED TRAFFIC FOLLOWING ANOTHER AIRPLANE IN THE PATTERN.  DURING LEFT BASE FOR LANDING RUNWAY 14 THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO A STEEP NOSE DOWN TRAJECTORY TURNING IN A SPIRALING MOTION TO THE RIGHT FROM APPROXIMATELY 600 AGL.  NO DISTRESS COMMUNICATION WAS CALLED TO ATC. N315AL CRASHED  INTO A CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX LOCATED IN METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS.  AFTER IMPACTING THE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX A POST FIRE CRASH STARTED AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE BUILDINGS FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY CASUALTY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT; NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED ON THE GROUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA17FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA117), Feb 28, 2017: Lavender Alan P Sonex (N315AL), Methuen, MA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly secure oil and fuel line fittings during maintenance, which resulted in an inflight engine fire, and his subsequent loss of control while maneuvering for landing.…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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