What happened
On June 11, 2025, at approximately 21:45 CDT, a Lancair 360, registration N77LH, was destroyed following an accident near Fort Stockton, Texas. The aircraft was being operated under Part 91 for personal use as the pilot performed a cross-country flight from California to Florida.
After stopping to refuel at El Paso International Airport (ELP), the pilot departed toward San Antonio International Airport. During the flight, the pilot detected smoke in the cockpit. After notifying air traffic control, the pilot diverted to the Fort Stockton-Presents County Airport to address the emergency.
While attempting to land on runway 12, the cockpit filled with smoke and flames began emitting from beneath the instrument panel. During the landing roll, the pilot reported a loss of brake authority, causing the aircraft to depart the runway to the left. The airplane came to a stop upright against a barbed wire fence at the airport perimeter. The pilot was not injured and was able to exit the aircraft safely.
The investigation
The fire destroyed the engine compartment, the left wing, and a portion of the fuselage. The aircraft, which was a kit-built experimental plane from 1999, was powered by a Lycoming Engines O-360-A1A engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe had 440.4 total hours and the engine had 2,220.9 total hours. A condition inspection had been completed on June 9, 2025. The fire consumed the aircraft's maintenance and build records, which were located in the baggage compartment.