Weather (Other) · NTSB CHI08LA158
Maggs Lancair 4P — Alhambra, IL
| Date | June 6, 2008 |
| Location | Alhambra, IL |
| Aircraft | Maggs Lancair 4P (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Windshear or thunderstorm |
| Pilot age | 57 |
| Pilot total time | 1,705 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue the flight into an area of known thunderstorm activity and the in-flight structural failure of the airplane.
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Convective weather-Thunderstorm-Decision related to condition - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Wing structure-(general)-Failure - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Convective weather-Thunderstorm-Effect on operation
What happened
Prior to the instrument flight rules flight, the pilot received an updated weather briefing and was informed of the existence of severe thunderstorm and tornado watches and extensive convective activity along his proposed route of flight. While en route, the pilot was informed by air traffic control of areas of heavy precipitation along his flight path. The pilot continued the flight and encountered an area of extreme precipitation. Communication and radar position information were lost. The airplane's fuselage was found separate from the wings and tail surfaces. The wreckage trail was about 4 miles long, indicating that the airplane experienced an in-flight structural failure before impacting the ground.