Accident Details
On August 20, 2024, at approximately 0819 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Lockwood Air Cam, registration N2412Y, sustained substantial damage in an accident at Minden-Tahoe Airport in Minden, Nevada. The aircraft was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot suffered fatal injuries, and the passenger was seriously injured.
Witness Account
An airport staff member parked on a taxiway adjacent to runway 34 observed the airplane take off from that runway. Several seconds after departure, the aircraft leveled off before the right wing dropped momentarily. It then leveled off briefly before entering a nose-down attitude. The airplane leveled off a third time for a few seconds, after which the right wing dropped and the airplane descended into the ground.
Accident Site Examination
Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane came to rest inverted on the right edge of runway 34, on a magnetic heading of 070°, approximately 3,900 feet from the approach end of the runway. The first identifiable point of impact was a ground scar left of the runway centerline, about 3,880 feet from the approach end. The forward portion of the fuselage was compressed aft. All major structural components of the airplane remained attached to the airframe. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.