Airplane Then Leveled Off A Third Time For A Few Seconds Before The Right Wing Dropped And The Airplane Descended Into The Ground

Location: Minden, NV Accident Number: WPR24FA284
Date & Time: August 20, 2024, 08:19 Local Registration: N2412Y
Aircraft: Lockwood Air Cam Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On August 20, 2024, about 0819 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Lockwood Air Cam, N2412Y, was substantially damaged when in was involved in an accident at the Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, Nevada. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to an airport staff member who was parked on a taxiway adjacent to runway 34, they observed the airplane takeoff on runway 34, and several seconds later, it leveled off before the right wing dropped momentarily. The airplane leveled off briefly before it entered a nose down attitude. The airplane then leveled off a third time for a few seconds before the right wing dropped and the airplane descended into the ground. 

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° about 3,900 ft 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 ft from the approach end of the runway. 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

FMI: www.ntsb.gov