# NTSB SEA99LA061: Eugene Hughes Lancair IV, N124GH, Butte, MT, May 8, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1999, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Butte, MT
- Coordinates: 45.999042, -112.439895 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9990&lon=-112.4399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46308
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA99LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46308/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA061

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - airport sign/marker

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was practicing a short field approach with a high rate of descent.  The pilot stated that he did not maintain sufficient airspeed to arrest the descent and the aircraft landed hard.  The left main landing gear collapsed, and as the aircraft departed the side of the runway, the left wing collided with runway markers.

## Factual narrative

On May 8, 1999, about 1530 mountain daylight time, a Lancair IV, N124GH, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight, landed hard at the Bert Mooney Airport, Butte, Montana, and veered off the runway.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated from Butte, about 15 minutes prior to the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was practicing a short field approach with a high rate of descent.  The pilot stated that he did not maintain sufficient airspeed to arrest the descent and the aircraft landed hard.  The left main landing gear collapsed, and as the aircraft departed the side of the runway, the left wing collided with runway markers.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N124GH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N124GH), registered now, S/N LIV-115, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Eugene Hughes LANCAIR IV
- Registry model: [Kelliher Robert E LANCAIR IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/kelliher-robert-e-lancair-iv) (registry code 05628TJ) (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-080
- Airframe hours: 99
- Engines: Continental TSIO-550-B 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eugene F. Hughes
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 1998, 99 hours before
- Departed: BTM
- Airport: BTM, Bert Mooney, runway 29, 5,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,620 total, 99 in this make and model, 2,449 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19990508005039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990508005039A), May 8, 1999: Amtr LANCAIRIV, Butte, MT, Substantial damage. Acft landed hard, and the landing gear and wings sustained damage. (.19) on may 8, 1999, about 1530 mountain daylight time, a Lancair iv, N124GH, registered to…

## Other investigations on N124GH (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 WPR25LA201](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA201), Jun 30, 2025: Lancair IV (N124GH), Alpine, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of visual reference during the landing approach which resulted in a collision with water.

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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