NTSB Identification: LAX05FA061
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, January 05, 2005 in Sacaton, AZ
Aircraft: Vail Lancair 235, registration: N64BV
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain
errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final
report has been completed.

On January 5, 2005, at 1705 mountain standard time, an experimental
single engine Vail Lancair 235, N64BV, impacted flat open desert terrain
near Sacaton, Arizona, on the Gila River Indian Reservation. The private
pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part
91. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and one passenger were fatally
injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area
flight that departed Stellar Airpark (P19), Chandler, Arizona, about
1645, and was scheduled to terminate at Stellar Airpark. No flight plan
had been filed.

According to a witness, he was walking home and watching the accident
airplane doing maneuvers. He saw the airplane "zoom up" in a nose high
attitude, and then the wing dropped, like a wing over. The airplane
started to spin. The witness thought that the airplane would come out of
the spinning, but it never did.

Witnesses at the airport stated that the airplane had last been refueled
with 19 gallons of fuel on December 26, 2004, and was not flown until
January 5th, the day of the accident. Witnesses reported that the
airplane took off, and completed one pass around the airport before
departing to the south.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane
on scene. The airplane came to rest in a muddy area, mostly intact, and
on its belly about 500 yards from a small community. The airplane was on
a westerly heading, and appeared to have struck the ground in a left
wing, nose low attitude. The first identified point of contact (FIPC)
was an impression of the left wing, which appeared to be about 4 inches
in depth. The airplane came to rest about 3 feet from the FIPC.

The rudder separated from the airplane and came to rest 2 feet from the
tail section. The flaps, ailerons, and the tail and elevators remained
attached to the airplane. Recovery personnel detached the left aileron,
right flap, and tail section to aid in the recovery.

Investigators examined the airframe and engine at Air Transport,
Phoenix, Arizona, on January 14, 2005, under the auspices of the Safety
Board. The FAA and Textron Lycoming, a party to the investigation, were
present at the inspection. The airframe inspection revealed no preimpact
anomalies. Investigators established flight control continuity from the
cockpit to the wings and tail sections. Separations in the flight
control tubes appeared jagged in nature. Both flight control sticks
separated and were jagged in appearance. The fuel selector handle was in
the ON position. The fuel system was continuous, with separations noted
as jagged in appearance.

Visual examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies. The
Lycoming representative removed the top spark plugs. According to the
Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug chart AV-27, the spark plugs exhibited
coloration that showed operation in the normal range. He determined that
the electrodes were normal to worn-out in appearance. Manual rotation of
the engine from the crankshaft produced thumb compression in each
cylinder in proper firing order. Both magnetos remained connected to
their respective mounting pads at the engine. During manual rotation of
the engine, the left magneto produced spark at the ignition harness. The
representative removed and manually rotated the right magneto, producing
spark at the points.

The Lycoming representative removed the carburetor and fuel strainer,
and observed a blue color liquid flowing from their respective fuel
lines. He disassembled the carburetor, and the floats were hydraulically
crushed in symmetry. He removed the oil filter assembly from the engine,
and cut it open. The oil filter was clean of debris.


NTSB Identification: LAX05LA064
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, January 12, 2005 in El Cajon, CA
Aircraft: Jimmy Hill Lancair 235, registration: N124JH
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain
errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final
report has been completed.

On January 12, 2005, at 1438 Pacific standard time, a Lancair 235,
N124JH, collided with a fence while on final approach for landing at
Gillespie Field, El Cajon, California. The commercial pilot/owner
operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot
was fatally injured and the passenger was seriously injured; the
airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions
prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight originated
in Yuma, Arizona, at an undetermined time.

A witness told the National Transportation Safety Board investigator
that she saw the airplane cross in front of her pickup truck about 10
feet above the ground going very fast and low. Immediately after the
airplane crossed her path it struck the airport boundary fence and
impacted in the dirt beyond. The airport manager said the wreckage was
about 500 feet from the approach end of runway 27 right, and about 1,800
feet from the runway's displaced threshold.