# NTSB WPR18FA011: Peterson Lancair Legacy, N259L, Bowie, AZ, October 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2017, 08:34 local (15:34 UTC) - Place: Bowie, AZ - Coordinates: 32.36861, -109.566108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3686&lon=-109.5661&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 96216 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18FA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96216/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96216 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18FA011 ## Probable cause An in-flight loss of control due to a bird strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056149B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=056149B), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=056149B), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=056149B), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056149B), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056149B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had planned to make a 745-nautical mile (nm) cross-country flight. A flight plan found in the wreckage indicated the pilot's intention to fly to the southeast and reach two checkpoints along the route of flight. Radar data revealed that, after the airplane reached the first planned checkpoint, the radar returns were equidistant as the airplane continued flying to the southeast. The last minute of radar data showed that the airplane descended about 2,300 ft while northwest of the second planned checkpoint, with the last radar return off the anticipated route. A witness located near the accident site stated that he observed the airplane circling toward the ground. The wreckage was found 17 nm northwest of the second planned checkpoint. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Numerous pieces of windscreen and airplane were examined by the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Lab. Of the 38 microslides that were prepared, 6 microslides contained bird feather fragments. Thus, given these results as well as the airplane's rapid descent from cruise flight, it is likely that a bird impacted the windscreen and caused the pilot to lose control of the airplane. It could not be determined from the available evidence if the bird strike hindered the pilot's ability to maneuver controls and/or incapacitated the pilot. The type of bird could also not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2017, at 0834 mountain standard time, a Peterson Lancair Legacy 2000, N259L, departed controlled flight and collided with desert terrain near Bowie, Arizona. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot, who built the airplane, was operating the airplane as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight departed from Eagle Roost Airpark, Aguila, Arizona, about 0810 with a planned destination of Garner Field, Uvalde, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot had planned to fly the airplane from its base in Aguila to Uvalde, about 745 nautical miles (nm) to the southeast to attend a fly-in. A flight plan outlining the pilot's intended route of flight was found in the wreckage. The flight plan showed that the pilot planned to depart at 0810 and reach the Buckeye VORTAC at 0839 and the San Simon VORTAC located about 210 nm southeast of the Buckeye VORTAC. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar data revealed that the airplane flew southeast at a cruising altitude of about 10,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The last nine radar returns occurred between 0833:16 to 0834:13. During that time, the airplane's altitude decreased from 9,850 to 7,550 ft msl. The last radar return was located about 100 ft east of the accident location (see figure 1). The airplane wreckage was located about 17 nm northwest of the San Simon VORTAC. Figure 1. Last radar returns for the accident flight. A witness who was in his front yard, located 0.8 nm south-southeast of the accident site, heard the airplane flying overhead. He then observed the airplane circling toward the ground, similar to an air show airplane maneuver. He reported that the sound emanating from the airplane was cutting in and out, as if the engine was sputtering, but he stated that the sound of the engine's rotation could have been echoing from the hills. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, Tucson, Arizona. The pilot's cause of death was blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for ethanol and all tested drugs. Numerous pieces of windscreen and airplane were sent to the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Lab for examination. DNA analysis was conducted on eight samples of various windscreen pieces. None of the samples contained avian DNA. A microscopic examination was conducted on all of the pieces, and a total of 38 microslides were prepared from the material. Six of these microslides contained bird feather fragments. The feather material consisted of two pennaceous feather parts and four downy feather parts. None of the feather fragments were attributed to a specific bird species or group, but numerous birds could be excluded based on the microscopic structures found in the samples, including ducks, doves, and perchingbirds. The Audubon Society chapter closest to the accident location stated that it would be possible to see sandhill cranes or raptors, such as Swainson's hawks, in the area where the accident occurred. The wreckage was located in unpopulated desert terrain at an elevation of about 3,860 ft msl. The debris path at the accident site stretched more than 120 ft along a heading of about 155°. The left-and right-wing pieces were accounted for at the accident site. Both wings sustained crush deformation, with the leading-edge skin found forward in the debris field and not attached to the main wing section. The fuel caps and their respective flanges were found forward of their respective wings, consistent with fuel inside the wing forcing the cap outward during impact. The canopy was found within the debris field and was fragmented into multiple sections. The latching mechanisms for both the left and right sides were consistent with the canopy being latched at the time of impact. Control surface continuity could not be established due to the severe fragmentation of the flight control surfaces and their linkages to the cockpit controls. The engine had sustained impact damage. The crankshaft could not be rotated despite several attempts to do so. The top spark plugs were removed, revealing a light gray coloration, which was consistent with normal operation. The cylinders were examined through the spark plug holes, revealing that the combustion chambers were mechanically undamaged and that there was no evidence of foreign object ingestion or detonation. The valves were intact and undamaged. There was no evidence of valve-to-piston face contact. The gas path and combustion signatures observed at the spark plugs, combustion chambers and exhaust system components displayed coloration that was consistent with normal operation. One propeller blade was visible at the accident site and was found relatively straight with no evidence of twisting. The other blade was buried under the engine and had separated with the tip oriented toward the firewall and the hub near the propeller spinner. This blade was twisted at the tip and contained a 4-inch gouge where a portion of the outboard leading-edge piece had become separated; the piece was found buried near the remainder of the blade. The fuel selector was found with the handle pointing to the left tank position. The position of the fuel selector valve was in the left position. The selector was found in several pieces. The fuel filter was partially disassembled, and the screen was found to be clean. The fuel servo was disassembled and found to contain liquid that had a smell similar to AVGAS, the diaphragms were pliable, and the valve was intact. The transducer was disassembled, and, when air was forced through the inlet, the internal wheel could be heard rotating. Removal of the fuel manifold (spider) revealed no evidence of liquid, the diaphragm was pliable, and the spring was intact. Postaccident examination of theairframe and engine found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N259L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N259L-2019-04-03), registration cancelled 2019-04-03, S/N 180, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Peterson Lancair Legacy (2000) - Registry model: [Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/peterson-michael-lewis-legacy-2000) (registry code 056149B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: L2K-180 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 399 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 5, 2017 - Departed: 27AZ, AGUILA, AZ - Destination: UVA, UVALDE, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; restraint: none; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,500 total, 184 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSAD, 29 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 20171019022309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171019022309A), Oct 19, 2017: Peterson Michael Lewis LEGACY 2000, Wilcox, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft crash investigation could find no cause concering the aircraft. Aircraft impacted ground nose low and planted the propeller hub and front of the… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 26, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96216. 5.2 MB in all. - Non-Volatile Memory Device Report - Specialist's Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Non-Volatile%20Memory%20Device%20Report%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Maps and Diagrams (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps%20and%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Records of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Records%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Recorded Air Traffic Control Radar Data (Plot) (item 4, .PDF, 799 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481626&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Recorded%20Air%20Traffic%20Control%20Radar%20Data%20(Plot)-Master.PDF - Air Traffic Control Radar Data (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481627&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Air%20Traffic%20Control%20Radar%20Data-Master.PDF - Tests and Research (item 6, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481628&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Tests%20and%20Research-Master.PDF - Smithsonian Feather Lab Report (item 7, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Smithsonian%20Feather%20Lab%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 9, .PDF, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF 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.