# NTSB WPR21LA294: Kuykendall Charles Lancair IV, N26PD, Indian Springs, NV, July 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 28, 2021, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Indian Springs, NV · Highway - Coordinates: 36.563494, -115.61577 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5635&lon=-115.6158&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103581/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103581 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA294 ## Probable cause An in-flight fire due to an undetermined electrical malfunction. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05602R4), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=05602R4), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=05602R4), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05602R4), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05602R4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was making a cross-country flight in the airplane. While still in the initial climb, shortly after he had switched on the electric fuel boost pump at 10,000 ft mean sea level as recommended, the engine began to sputter, and he saw smoke coming from the right side of the instrument panel. The engine stopped producing power, and the pilot turned towards a highway for an emergency landing. The airplane lost electrical power, and the pilot was unable to lower the landing gear. During the gear-up landing on the highway, the propeller struck the ground, which resulted in the airplane veering to the left off the pavement into the center dirt median strip. The pilot opened the canopy and saw fuel spilling out of the left wing. He exited the airplane, and a short time later, the airplane burst into flames. The airframe was destroyed by fire damage. Examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2021, about 0900 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Kuykendall Lancair IV, N26PD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Indian Springs, Nevada. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the intent of the flight was to reposition the airplane from North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), Las Vegas, Nevada, to Roberts Field (RDM), Redmond, Oregon. He had flown the airplane numerous times over the past several months, including a flight from Texas to VGT. There were no mechanical problems identified on any of the past flights. Before the accident flight, the pilot performed a preflight inspection and then started the engine. He taxied to the runup area where he conducted an engine run-up, cycled the propeller, and checked all instrumentation, which indicated good or normal indications. He then taxied to runway 12R and was cleared for takeoff with a climbing right turn to the northwest. His intent was to climb to 12,500 ft mean sea level (msl) for the flight to RDM. The pilot stated that he was in a 500 ft per minute climb, and all the engine parameters were normal. As the airplane reached 10,000 ft msl, he switched the electric fuel boost pump on as recommended, and everything continued to be normal. About 23 nautical miles (nm) southwest of Creech Air Force Base (INS), Indian Springs, Nevada, at 10,500 ft msl, the engine began to sputter. About 5 seconds later, the pilot observed smoke coming from the right side of the instrument panel. He checked the gauges and did not observe anything abnormal. The pilot leveled the airplane and felt it decelerate, which indicated that the engine had stopped producing power; at that point, the electrical readings from the instrument panel went blank. He made a turn toward a highway, established a descent at 80 knots, and then turned off the electrical switches except for the master switch. The pilot stated that he positioned the landing gear handle to the down position. However, he did not feel the landing gear lowering nor did he hear any audio tones; he then turned off the master switch. At this time, smoke was still coming from the right side of the instrument panel. As there was light traffic on a highway near his location, the pilot was able to make an approach and land on the highway. The airplane landed with the gear up and started to slide down the highway. The propeller subsequently struck the road, and the airplane veered to the left into a dirt center median. When the airplane came to a stop, the pilot opened the canopy and observed fuel spilling out of the left wing. He got out of the airplane and spoke to motorists who had stopped to check on him. The pilot stated that he was about to return to the airplane when it burst into flames. Review of photographs provided by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector indicated that the airframe was destroyed by fire. The airframe wasnot available for examination by National Transportation Safety Board investigators. An engine examination revealed no evidence of any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N26PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26PD-2021-11-09), registration cancelled 2021-11-09, S/N 067, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KUYKENDALL CHARLES LANCAIR IV - Registry model: [Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/kuykendall-charles-lancair-iv) (registry code 05602R4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 067 - Year built: 1996 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motor TSIO-550-B(1) 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Starlite Aviation Technologies LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: VGT, North Las Vegas, NV - Destination: RDV, Redmon, OR - Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 17, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,000 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KINS, 3 nm away - METAR: KINS 281640Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 31/09 A3012 RMK SLP147 $ ## 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 20210728023039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210728023039A), Jul 28, 2021: Kuykendall Charles LANCAIR IV, Indian Springs, NV, Destroyed. On July 28, 2021, at approximately 0909 PDT, the las vegas flight standards district office received notification of a part 91 crash, involving a 1996… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103581. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12914742&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20CAlberti_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12914829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination report (NTSB) (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12914589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA294%20Engine%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13021026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.