Shepard LANCAIR PROPJET N42EX

Summary

On 15 June 2007 at about 15:58 local time, a Shepard LANCAIR PROPJET registered N42EX was involved in an accident near Portland, Oregon, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 2007 at 15:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Portland, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.4481, -122.6978

Aircraft

Shepard LANCAIR PROPJET

Registration

N42EX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hillsboro → Twin Falls

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA07LA158

3 people died.

The loss of airplane control during climb for an undetermined reason.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed and opened for the personal cross country flight. After takeoff, the airplane was radar identified, and the pilot was issued vectors on course. The last transmission received from the pilot was about 1 minute 40 seconds after takeoff when the pilot acknowledged receipt of a clearance. Radar data shows the airplane climbing on course to an altitude of 8,100 feet mean sea level (msl). About 3 minutes 23 seconds after takeoff, the airplane began to descend and entered a right turn. The last radar return was recorded about 5 minutes after takeoff and placed the airplane at 3,300 feet msl about 1/4-mile east of the accident site. A witness reported seeing the airplane emerge from an overcast cloud layer in a near vertical attitude traveling at a high rate of speed. The airplane impacted in the backyard of a residence. Review of weather data shows that the airplane was probably in and out of clouds after departure until it passed through about 4,000 feet msl. After entering the reported 4,000 to 5,000 foot overcast layer, the airplane was likely in clouds until radar contact with the airplane was lost. The pilot was instrument rated and had accumulated about 158 hours of instrument flight time. He completed an instrument proficiency check in the accident airplane about 5 months prior to the accident. During examination of the wreckage no evidence suggesting mechanical malfunction or failure was found. However, the severity of the impact damage, which resulted in destruction of the flight control system and all flight instruments and avionics, precluded determination of the reason for the loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.