Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 23:05:32 -0500
Message-ID: <redirect-926120@logan.com>
From: "Tom Gourley" <tom.gourley@verizon.net>
Subject: Report on N320WH
Reply-to: "Tom Gourley" <tom.gourley@verizon.net>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-15
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
References: <list-924925@logan.com>

A couple of weeks ago there was a lot of discussion about N320WH.  FWIW
here's an excerpt from the preliminary NTSB report.

"On December 24, 2005, at 1310 Pacific standard time, a Forrest Haynes
Lancair 320, N320WH, impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing
following a loss of engine power while descending toward the Ramona Airport,
Ramona, California. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the
provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot and
passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane was destroyed. Visual
meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not not filed for the
cross-country flight that originated from Bullhead City, Arizona, about an
hour prior to the accident.

According to the pilot, the flight was about 35 miles out from their
destination so he set the manifold pressure at 15 inches and the engine at
2,300 rpm to slow down the airplane and begin the descent. The pilot
indicated that all was normal at this point. About 14 miles from Ramona, the
pilot performed a prelanding check by switching to the header fuel tank,
turning on the auxiliary fuel pump, lowering the landing gear, and applying
full a rich mixture setting. He noted no anomalies.

When the airplane was about 4 miles from the airport at an elevation of
4,000 feet, the engine rpm and manifold pressure began to steadily decrease.
The pilot ensured that all engine controls were full forward and switched
the fuel selector to one of the wing fuel tanks. The engine did not regain
power, and the pilot diverted his attention to an emergency landing spot.
His passenger pointed out a field and the pilot set up for landing between
two trees. During the forced landing the left wing tip clipped a tree limb
and the airplane impacted the ground. As the airplane came to a stop, the
pilot looked back and saw fire behind him. He and his passenger exited the
airplane, which burned to the ground."

Tom Gourley
Legacy #122
Building slow, but I'll get there someday