Plavcan LANCAIR 235 N235U
14 October 2005 · Rootstown, Ohio, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 14 October 2005 at about 18:05 local time, a Plavcan LANCAIR 235 registered N235U was involved in an accident near Rootstown, Ohio, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:05
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rootstown, Ohio, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.0992, -81.1983
- Aircraft
- Plavcan LANCAIR 235
- Registration
- N235U
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Carrollton → Ravenna
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI06FA010
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout during cruise flight, which resulted in their failure to see and avoid each other and a midair collision.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A Lancair 235 airplane and a Cessna 172L airplane were destroyed when they collided in midair during day visual meteorological conditions. The Lancair departed on a personal flight from an airport approximately 38 miles south of the accident site, for a destination airport about 8 miles north-northwest of the accident site. Radar track data depicted the Lancair's flight path as north-northeast, on a direct path to the destination airport, at an altitude between 2,200 to 2,500 feet msl. The Cessna departed an airport about 15 miles west-southwest of the accident site, and flew eastbound with a flight instructor and dual student on an instrument training flight. Radar data indicated that the flight had numerous heading and altitude changes, consistent with the training mission. According to radar track data, during the final minute prior to the collision, the Lancair was on true course of about 356 degrees, with a ground speed of approximately 145 knots. The Cessna was on a true course of about 295 degrees, with a ground speed of approximately 100 knots, and an altitude of 2,300 feet. The relative angle as extrapolated from radar data, indicates that the Cessna would have been positioned about 45 degrees to the right of the Lancair's nose, and the Lancair would have been approximately 80 degrees to the left of the Cessna's nose. A witness to the accident stated that both airplanes appeared to be in straight and level flight prior to impact. Neither airplane was under air traffic control. Federal Air Regulations state that vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. Postaccident inspection disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies with either airplane.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plavcan LANCAIR 235 | N235U | - | Destroyed |
| Cessna 172L | N7768G | American Winds Flight Academy, Inc. | Destroyed |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 May 2005 | Klasing BRADLEY BA100 | Xenia, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Jul 2005 | Piper PA-28-180 | West Carrollton, Ohio, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Dec 2005 | Cessna T210M | North Lima, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Aug 2005 | O'connor AIR COMMAND ELITE | Cincinnati, Ohio, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 2005 | Cessna 172N | Wellington, Ohio, United States | Flight Services Of Medina | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Piper PA-28-181 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | National Flyer's Association | No injuries | - |