Pilot Debrief

Lancair Legacy near Bixby, MO — 2019-10-06

Final reportCEN20FA003
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Date
2019-10-06
Location
Bixby, MO, USA
Aircraft
Lancair Legacy
Registration
N10LG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight into marginal VFR weather conditions, and likely encountered instrument flight rules (IMC) conditions shortly thereafter. Radar data indicated that the airplane was flying south-southwest between 2,300 ft mean sea level (msl) and 2,800 ft msl, then entered a descent to about 1,525 ft msl before initiating a climbing, 270° left turn. Witnesses near the accident site reported a thick, low cloud cover and estimated that the airplane was flying within a few hundred feet of the ground. Radar contact with the airplane was lost at a groundspeed of 42 kts and altitude of 1,975 ft msl about 24 minutes after departure. Examination revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal airplane and engine operation. Although the pilot was instrument rated and the airplane was equipped for instrument flight, there was no evidence in the pilot's logbook to indicate that he was instrument current or proficient. There was no record of the pilot receiving preflight weather information from an official source. It is likely the pilot’s lack of instrument currency and proficiency with his VFR flight into IMC conditions resulted in disorientation. The radar track data, sound witness reports, and wreckage distribution is are consistent with a loss of control and the restricted visibility conditions were conducive to the development of spatial disorientation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not obtain a weather briefing before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 16 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents16

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