# NTSB LAX81FXQ36: La Lee W-18, N28LL, Reno, NV, September 16, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 16, 1981
- Place: Reno, NV · RENO, NV
- Location: 39.5296° N, 119.8138° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Reno, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5296&lon=-119.8138&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123284
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FXQ36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FXQ36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2435  81/9/16    RENO,NV             LA LEE W-18         CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0815                    N28LL               PX-  0  0  0  AIR SHOW/RACING           AGE 65, 10298 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 2 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RENO STEAD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RENO,NV                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        REMARKS- AIR RACE TRIALS.WITNESS STATED HEARD ACFT BACKFIRE TWICE THEN ACFT DOVE AT 45DEG ANGLE INTO GD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N28LL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28LL-1981-12-23), registration cancelled 1981-12-23, S/N 1, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LA LEE W-18
- Registry model: [La Lee W-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/la-lee-w-18) (registry code 0565331) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Reno Stead

## 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 19810916059229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810916059229A), Sep 16, 1981: Univar F1, Reno, NV, Destroyed. Engine backfired during low-level air race practice. Dived into ground. No airplane or pilot malfunctions noted.

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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