# NTSB DEN05LA028: Farrell Lancair LC3, N41MF, Las Cruces, NM, November 20, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 2004, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.289443, -106.921943
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2894&lon=-106.9219&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: ABQ Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60604/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA028

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The pilot stated that during rotation the airplane "turned right." He attempted to correct but the airplane continued off the runway to the right and impacted terrain.

## Factual narrative

On November 20, 2004, approximately 1130 mountain standard time, a Farrell Lancair LC3, N41MF, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff roll from Las Cruces International Airport (LRU), Las Cruces, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The cross-country flight, en route to Alamogordo, New Mexico, was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot's accident report, as the aircraft was rotated for takeoff on runway 26, it "turned right." The pilot attempted to correct, but the airplane continued off the runway to the right. The nose and left main landing gear separated and the left main wing spar was bent aft. An examination of the airplane's systems, conducted by the FAA, revealed no anomalies.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41MF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41MF-2021-10-26), registration cancelled 2021-10-26, S/N 1, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Farrell Lancair LC3
- Registry model: [Farrell Michael FARRELL](https://openairdocs.org/model/farrell-michael-farrell) (registry code 05607OY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 271
- Engines: Continental IO-550-G 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2004, 55 hours before
- Departed: LRU, Las Cruces, NM
- Destination: ALM, Alamogordo, NM
- Airport: LRU, Las Cruces International, runway 26, 6,069 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 27, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,629 total, 225 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: LRU, 1 nm away

## 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 20041120029229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041120029229A), Nov 20, 2004: Amtr LANCAIRES, Las Cruces, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 20, 2004, at approximately 1120 MST, N41MF, a lanceair-3, departed the right side of runway 26 during takeoff at Las Cruces International…

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.