Accident Sequence
The accident occurred on January 1, 2009, at 2048 central standard time, when a Lancair 360, registration N3603R, impacted terrain following a loss of control during takeoff on runway 12 at Joliet Regional Airport (JOT), Joliet, Illinois. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-impact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Watertown Municipal Airport (RYV), Watertown, Wisconsin.
The flight had originated earlier that day from Executive Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida, between 1000 and 1100. The pilot landed at JOT around 1800 and discovered no fuel services were available due to the New Year's holiday. He left a message requesting 10 gallons of fuel in each wing to depart by 0700 the next morning. The pilot told several people he had 4 to 5 gallons of fuel remaining upon landing. He attempted to arrange fuel from DuPage County Airport (DPA) but did not retrieve it.
A security camera at a nearby gas station recorded the accident sequence. At 2041, the airplane was seen taxiing to the approach end of the runway. At 2047, strobe lights activated while on the runway. At 2048, a flash was observed off the left side of the runway, followed seconds later by a larger flash.
Pilot Information
The 50-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and sea and instrument ratings, along with private pilot privileges for multi-engine land. He was issued a second-class medical certificate on November 20, 2008, with no limitations. A computerized pilot log showed 2,058.65 hours of flight time as of February 19, 2008, though entries were incomplete. On his November 2008 medical application, the pilot reported 3,425 total hours, with 85 hours in the previous 6 months. The aircraft maintenance logbook indicated he was checked out to fly the accident airplane on June 12, 1996. A flight log for N3603R showed 221.4 hours flown between April 1996 and December 2002. No record of the last biennial flight review was found.
Aircraft Information
The amateur-built Lancair 360 (serial number 238-320-007) is a high-performance, laminar-flow, low-wing, two-place composite airplane. It is powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360-A1A engine. The airplane flight manual states fuel consumption of 10.5 gallons per hour at 75% power at sea level, with a total fuel capacity of 57 gallons. The aircraft was built by a flying club with its first flight on September 27, 1992. The pilot and co-owner purchased it from the club in November 2008. The last condition inspection on airframe and engine was on February 13, 2008, at 1,429.3 hours; total time at accident was 1,445.5 hours.
Meteorological Information
At 2045, weather at JOT reported: wind from 210 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; broken clouds at 9,000 feet; temperature minus 1°C; dew point minus 4°C; altimeter 29.80 inches of mercury.
Wreckage Examination
The main wreckage came to rest inverted in grass north of the parallel taxiway, approximately 1,800 feet from the departure end of runway 12. The debris path had a magnetic heading of 84 degrees. Initial impact marks included red glass from the left wing position light, followed by ground slashes with red paint transfer. Debris scattered across the taxiway, with scorched terrain extending northward. The propeller separated from the crankshaft; one blade was loose, both blades gouged, and the spinner shattered. The left wing sustained leading-edge impact and fire damage, with portions burned away. The right wing also showed fire damage, but the upper surface outboard of the landing gear was not burned. The flap actuator indicated a 10-degree flap extension. Flight control continuity could not be established due to fire and impact. The engine sustained heat damage; no fuel was found in fuel lines or the engine-driven pump. The engine rotated freely, and magnetos produced spark. Cylinder examination revealed debris in the number 4 cylinder and damaged pushrods on number 2.
Additional Information
Records from ORL showed N3603R was fueled with 47.7 gallons on December 26, 2008. The pilot purchased a quarter bushel of grapefruit (about 12 pounds) before departing. Recovered baggage and contents weighed 125 pounds. Weight and balance calculations indicated takeoff weight of approximately 1,809 pounds with a center of gravity (CG) of 66.2 inches. The maximum takeoff gross weight is 1,800 pounds with a CG range of 59.9 to 65.7 inches, indicating the aircraft was both overweight and out of CG limits.
A note and $30 were found inside a Cessna 172 at JOT on January 2, 2009. The note read: "We were stuck and needed 5 gal of 100LL from your left wing tank here is $30 Thanks." The Cessna was missing 21.1 gallons of fuel, with 5 to 6 gallons from the left tank and the remainder from the right. A step ladder and garden hose smelling of aviation fuel were found near the fuel pumps. Two callers reported seeing deer on or near the runway around the time of the accident.