# NTSB CEN25FA321: Lancair NLA-275-FR-C, N345LA, Bradley, AR, August 19, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: August 18, 2025, 21:33 local (Aug 19, 2025, 02:33 UTC)
- Place: Bradley, AR
- Coordinates: 33.057, -93.657
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0570&lon=-93.6570&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Lancair Owners and Builders Organization, FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200808
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25FA321
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200808/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA321

## Preliminary report

On August 18, 2025, about 2133 central daylight time, a Lancair NLA-275-FR-C airplane, N345LA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bradley, Arkansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A preliminary review of ADS-B data showed the airplane departed Lakeway Airpark, Lakeway, Texas, about 2011. The airplane then proceeded on a predominant northeast course. At 2018, the airplane reached an altitude of about 10,000 ft mean sea level (msl). After about 50 minutes, the airplane began a climb to an altitude of about 12,175 ft msl. After about 18 minutes, the airplane climbed to maximum altitude of about 14,125 ft msl, followed by a descent to about 12,375 ft msl. The airplane then began a climb from 12,375 ft msl to 12,675 ft msl, followed by a descent. About 2132 and at 11,800 ft msl, the airplane began a rapid right spiraling descent. Near the end of the descent, the data indicated that the airplane made a momentary level off and climb before a descending left turn into terrain (see figure 1). Figure 1. Profile view of the final flight segment The main wreckage of the airplane was located in wooded terrain. The initial impact point was a pine tree about 200 ft from the main wreckage. The path from the initial impact point to the main wreckage was on a true heading of 066°. The debris field from the initial impact point to the main wreckage contained fragments of the right wing. The main wreckage was oriented with the airframe upright and the engine was inverted with a final heading of 180°. The airplane was destroyed by the impact sequence and the postimpact fire. The wreckage was recovered from the accident site and was transported to a secure location for future examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Josh Richling NLA-275-FR-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05640AD), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N345LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N345LA), registered now, S/N 1004, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LANCAIR NLA-275-FR-C
- Registry model: [Josh Richling NLA-275-FR-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/josh-richling-nla-275-fr-c) (registry code 05640AD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-550-N](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-n) (registry code 17215, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1004
- Year built: 2021
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Five Lime Alpha LLC
- Registered owner: Five Lime Alpha LLC
- Departed: 3R9, Lakeway, TX

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KTXK, 29 nm away
- METAR: METAR KTXK 190253Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT080 32/24 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP140 T03170239 53011=

## 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 20250818014539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250818014539A), Aug 18, 2025: Josh Richling NLA-275-FR-C, Bradley, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On August 18, 2025, the airman involved in the accident departed lakeway airpark, lakeway, Texas, at around 2011 CST. Visual meteorological conditions…

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.

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