On April 23, 2008, at 0709 mountain standard time (MST), a Carlton Cadwell Lancair IV-P, N25CL, experimental amateur built airplane, experienced a loss of control during takeoff and subsequently impacted into a orange grove near Falcon Field Airport (FFZ), Mesa, Arizona. Boehle Aviation LLC, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot with a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate, the private pilot, and one passenger were killed; the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. The cross-country personal flight departed Mesa, Arizona, with a planned destination of Santa Ana, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed.

Air traffic controllers reported that after takeoff, about the time the gear was being retracted, they observed smoke trailing from the airplane. The controller advised the pilot of the smoke. The controller did not receive any response from the airplane. Witnesses observed the airplane make an abrupt climbing left turn, and then the wings rocked back and forth, followed by the airplane descending straight down into an orange grove. The airplane exploded on impact and witnesses observed a large fireball.

The airplane and engine was recovered and examined on April 24, 2008, at Air Transport Inc., Phoenix, Arizona. No abnormalities were noted on the engine which would have precluded normal operations. All flight control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site. Due to the post crash fire and the thermal consumption of a majority of the composite airframe, control continuity could not be established.