History of Flight
On August 13, 2015, at approximately 2235 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Bartels Lancair Evolution airplane, registration N427LE, descended into the Pacific Ocean about 490 nautical miles northwest of San Francisco, California. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Unmanned Systems, Inc., under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed and activated. The personal flight departed from Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, around 1815, with a planned destination of Hesperia Airport, Hesperia, California.
Unmanned Systems was modifying the airplane to serve as a trainer for pilots flying unmanned aircraft. In the month before the accident, the pilot, an employee of Unmanned Systems, had been working on developing and modifying hardware and software systems for the airplane. He planned to fly to Hesperia the day before to pick up his children but delayed due to drained batteries after the master switch was left on by FBO personnel.
On the accident day, the pilot texted his ex-spouse about working on the airplane until 0500 and then sleeping. At 1728, he texted that he was finishing maintenance and might fly. At 1815, he texted departure and estimated landing in Hesperia between 1915 and 1930.
Air traffic control communications show the pilot contacted Albuquerque ARTCC at 1825:24, reporting at 18,100 ft climbing to 21,000 ft. The controller cleared him to 25,000 ft. At 1829:54, the pilot made his last transmission, reading back a frequency change with a slight stutter and double microphone click. The controller found no response about five minutes later.
Radar data indicated the airplane climbed through 18,100 ft at the first call and through 22,800 ft at the last transmission, reaching 25,000 ft around 1832:30. The airplane tracked jet route J212, overflew waypoints CURIV and DECAS, and continued west on jet route J65. It overflew the destination airport and continued on a heading of 238°.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot, age 39, held a commercial pilot certificate with single- and multi-engine land and instrument ratings, and a flight instructor certificate. He was also a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic. His most recent medical certificate was issued in February 2015 with a requirement for corrective lenses. He reported 2,150 total flight hours on his medical application, but personal records showed about 4,025 hours including unmanned aircraft time. He had 25 hours of Lancair Evolution training and had attended test pilot training and hypobaric chamber training.
The Lancair Evolution (serial number EVO-002, manufactured 2009) received an experimental airworthiness certificate for research and development in October 2014. It was powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-135A engine installed new in December 2014. The airplane had a history of pressure controller issues, with a February 2015 discrepancy noting potential cabin leaks or outflow valve problems. A new carbon monoxide detector was installed in April 2015. The airplane was fueled with 70 gallons on the accident day.
The cockpit was equipped with a Garmin 900X primary flight display and multifunction display, with a Radiant Power Corporation (Moritz) touchscreen system. The pilot had been developing a prototype touchscreen to replace the original, which had a history of failures. The prototype was mounted in the panel, while the original touchscreen, still connected, rested on the adjacent seat according to acquaintances.
The Moritz/Radiant touchscreen controlled cabin pressure, climate, breakers, and other functions. It provided warnings for cabin altitude exceeding 12,000 ft or differential pressure exceeding 6.7 psi, with audible alarms. The CO Guardian unit could also generate a loud beeping tone for pressure warnings.
Interception and Descent
US military representatives reported that two F-15 fighter jets and a KC-135 tanker intercepted the airplane near Fresno, California, around 1900. Video from the trailing F-15 showed the airplane’s lights flashing. The F-15 pilot attempted to see inside but reported difficulty due to glare and window position. Both F-15 pilots could not see anyone inside. They used flares without reaction. The airplane continued on a heading of about 260° at 25,000 ft.
Using night vision goggles, the F-15 pilot, maneuvering to about 200 ft, observed a seatbelt shoulder harness fully forward and extremely tight, with no one visible inside. No frost on windows and no cockpit lights were seen. The F-15s followed for 20–30 minutes before being recalled. A US Coast Guard C-130 then followed the airplane until it crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Radar contact was lost at 2150 as the airplane entered non-radar airspace.
Video from the C-130 showed the airplane floating nose-low after impact, with the right wing and propeller submerged. Over the 49-minute video, the airplane gradually sank, with only the aft tail section visible at the end. The wreckage was not recovered. A Lancair representative stated that the 4-hour 22-minute flight duration was consistent with total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Crash Location and Aftermath
The accident occurred about 490 nautical miles northwest of San Francisco. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot's body was not recovered, and no autopsy or toxicological testing was performed. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated.