Carlton M Cadwell LANCAIR IV-P N25CL

Summary

On 23 April 2008 at about 14:09 local time, a Carlton M Cadwell LANCAIR IV-P registered N25CL, operated by Boehle Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, 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

23 April 2008 at 14:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Mesa, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Falcon Field Airport (FFZ)

Coordinates

33.4481, -111.7372

Aircraft

Carlton M Cadwell LANCAIR IV-P

Registration

N25CL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Boehle Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Santa Ana

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX08FA122

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed during climb out resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Air traffic controllers reported that shortly after takeoff, about the time the landing gear was being retracted, they observed smoke trailing from the airplane. The controller advised the pilot of the smoke, but did not receive a response. Additional witnesses reported that the airplane made an abrupt climbing left turn with the wings rocking back and forth before it nosed down and descended in a near-vertical attitude to ground impact. All flight control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site and all airplane components were found in the immediate area of the impact location. Due to fire and thermal damage to the majority of the composite airframe structure, establishment of control continuity was not possible. Teardown inspection of the engine did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. Investigators were unable to determine the cause or origin of the reported smoke during departure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.