Airplane Left A 200-Ft Swath Through A Corn Field

Location: Pauls Valley, OK Accident Number: CEN20LA266
Date & Time: 07/06/2020, 1205 CDT Registration: N444TW
Aircraft: Lancair LANCAIR Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On July 6, 2010, about 1205 central daylight time, a Lancair ES-P, N444TW, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the pilot's accident report, he departed the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Norman, Oklahoma, approximately 1130 for a flight to the Ardmore, Oklahoma, area and return. According to FlightAware, the first contact with the airplane was when it was at 1,700 ft when it was heading south. The airplane climbed to 4,500 ft, then turned back to the north at 1158. It began a 500 ft per minute descent and turned to the east, then southeast. The last contact was at 1205 when the airplane was at 1,700 ft, heading of 143°, and flying at 96 kts.

Photo documentation indicates the airplane left a 200-ft swath through a corn field on a heading about 045°. The cowl, engine, tail section, and nose landing gear separated from airplane on impact with the ground. The airplane came to rest upside down. The right wing separated from the fuselage and the left wing remained attached at the root, but outer portion of the left wing broke off. There was fire damage to the cabin, with more damage on the right side. There was fire damage to the right wing. Most of the propeller was also gone with damage to the spinner. The airplane impacted the ground and rolled inverted. The pilot said he exited the cabin through the right forward window before the cabin was engulfed with flames, but he could not recall any of the details as to why the airplane crashed.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov