# NTSB CEN09LA124: Lavigna Lancair IV P, N131DL, Iola, KS, January 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 7, 2009, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Iola, KS - Coordinates: 37.868057, -95.386947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8681&lon=-95.3869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73206/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA124 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Lavigna Daniel M JR LANCAIR IV P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05602QS), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Lavigna Daniel M JR LANCAIR IV P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05602QS), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Lavigna Daniel M JR LANCAIR IV P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05602QS), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Lavigna Daniel M JR LANCAIR IV P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05602QS), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Lavigna Daniel M JR LANCAIR IV P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=05602QS), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in the landing flare, the pilot observed an airplane on short final landing in the opposite direction. The pilot elected to abort the landing and applied full engine power. As the airplane began to climb, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. Following the pilot's unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the airplane experienced a hard landing in a grassy area north of the runway. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane was engulfed in flames. Control continuity was established to all of the airplane's flight controls. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On January 7, 2009, about 1330 central standard time, a single-engine Lavigna Lancair IV P experimental airplane, N131DL, was destroyed following a loss of engine power and subsequent hard landing at the Allen County Airport (K88) near Iola, Kansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Floatron Incorprorated of Phoenix, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 235-nautical mile cross-country flight originated from the Creve Coeur Airport (1H0), near St Louis, Missouri, with a planned fuel stop at K88. The pilot's final destination was to be the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), in Chandler, Arizona. According to the pilot, while in the landing flare, he observed an airplane on short final landing in the opposite direction. The pilot elected to abort the landing and applied full engine power. As the airplane began to climb, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. Following the pilot's unsuccessful attempt to re-start the engine, the airplane experienced a hard landing in a grassy area north of the runway. The pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane was engulfed in flames. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site. The inspector reported that the airplane's aft fuselage and empennage were mostly consumed in the post crash fire. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine or other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N131DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N131DL-2009-03-09), registration cancelled 2009-03-09, S/N LIV-131, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LAVIGNA LANCAIR IV P - Registry model: [Lavigna Daniel M JR LANCAIR IV P](https://openairdocs.org/model/lavigna-daniel-m-jr-lancair-iv-p) (registry code 05602QS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LIV-131 - Airframe hours: 650 - Engines: Continental TSIO-550 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Floatron Inc - Registered owner: Floatron Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 7, 2008 - Departed: 1H0, Saint Louis, MO - Destination: K88, Iola, KS - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: K88, Allen County Airport, runway 01, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 652 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090107000669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090107000669A), Jan 7, 2009: Lavign LANCAIRIVP, Iola, KS, Substantial damage. Pilot was VFR enroute to Iola, Kansas (K88) for a planned fuel stop. The pilot made a visual approach torunway 1 and was in the landing flare as he observed… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.