# Accident 20210528007029A: David James LANCAIR EVOLUTION, Mcdermott, OH, May 28, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 28, 2021, 10:58 local time
- Place: Mcdermott, OH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8183° N, 83.0278° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8183&lon=-83.0278&mi=10
- Aircraft: N515DL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N515DL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: David James LANCAIR EVOLUTION (registry code 05633Y7, https://openairdocs.org/model/david-james-lancair-evolution) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135A (registry code 52260, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-135a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DAVID JAMES LANCAIR EVOLUTION
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-135A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,675 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21FA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA238) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210528007029A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 28, 2021, ABOUT 1048 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A LANCAIR EVOLUTION AIRPLANE, N515DL, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR MCDERMOTT, OHIO. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. A REVIEW OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) INFORMATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ABOUT 1014 FROM BELLEFONTAINE REGIONAL AIRPORT (EDJ), BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN, WITH A DESTINATION OF CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CHS), CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) 250 AND THEN ACCELERATED TO 215 KNOTS GROUNDSPEED. DURING THE NEXT 1 MINUTE AND 43 SECONDS, WHILE LEVEL ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING, THE AIRPLANE GRADUALLY DECELERATED TO 146 KNOTS GROUNDSPEED. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY MADE A LEFT TURN AND A RAPID DESCENT OCCURRED. DURING THIS TIMEFRAME, THE PILOT?S TRANSMITTER BECAME STUCK AND A DISTRESSED CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WAS AUDIBLE. THE CONTROLLER MADE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE PILOT AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE IN A SPIRAL DESCENT WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A MISSING WING. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED INTO A FOREST WITH A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND A FIRE ENSUED. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PARACHUTE RECOVERY SYSTEM; THE BALLISTIC CHARGE FOR THE SYSTEM EXPENDED DURING THE FIRE. THE RIGHT WING (OUTBOARD 9 FT) WAS LOCATED ABOUT ½ MILE NORTHEAST OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER REVEALED ROTATIONAL SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH ENGINE POWER DURING GROUND IMPACT AND NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES OF THE AIRFRAME WERE OBSERVED. AN AIRMAN?S METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION (AIRMET) FOR ICING WAS VALID UP TO 22,000 FT, AND AN AIRMET FOR MODERATE TURBULENCE WAS VALID FROM 25,000 FT TO 42,000 FT THAT COVERED EDJ AND THE ACCIDENT LOCATION.

## 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 CEN21FA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA238), May 28, 2021: Lancair Evolution (N515DL), McDermott, OH, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to recognize and avoid airframe icing conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane performance and a subsequent loss of control and in-flight break-up.

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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