- History of Flight:
On October 7, 2026, at about 0952 local time, a Lancair IV-P, N5SV, registered to Plane Metrics LLC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hicks Airfield (T67), Fort Worth, Texas. The sole pilot onboard was fatally injured. The airplane was originating at the time.
Flight-tracking history shows that on September 23, 2026, the airplane arrived at T67 following a flight from Tulsa Riverside Airport (RVS/KRVS), Tulsa, Oklahoma.
According to Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, at 0943, the pilot taxied the airplane from the hangar towards runway 14. At 0951:38, the pilot started his takeoff roll from the runway. At 0952:09, the airplane departed the runway surface with a groundspeed of 89 knots. At 0952:20, the airplane reached 775 ft and 114 knots with a climb rate of 200 feet per minute (fpm). The next few data points show a sudden and high increase in climb rate, which reached +1800 fpm at 0952:26, at the same time, the airplane was at 950 ft and started a left hand turn with a groundspeed of 89 knots. The last ADS-B data point was recorded at 0952:40 in the vicinity of the the accident site, the airplane was at 800 ft, 81 knots, and -1856 feet per minute (fpm).
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| Figure: ADS-B exchange data |
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| Figure 2: ADS-B data ran through Google Earth |
The airplane impacted powerlines and a post crash fire ensued.
- Pilot Information:
Unknown.
- Airplane Information:The accident aircraft, serial number LIV-375, was manufactured in 2000. It was a 4-seat, pressurized, low-wing airplane equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear, electrically actuated wing flaps. The airframe was constructed of high temperature, epoxy prepreg, carbon fiber materials.
The airplane was equipped with a Continental TSIO 550E reciprocating engine, s/n: 803077, which drove a 4-bladed Hartzell #PHC H3YF-1RF # HR74A constant speed propeller.
According to an old sale listing, the airplane was equipped with the following: “• Garmin GNS 530 IFR GPS Nav/Com/G.S. • Garmin GNS 430 IFR GPS Nav/Com/G.S. • S-Tec H.S.I. Integrated to Garmin 530 • Garmin GTX 327 Transponder/Encoder • Quick Mount for Garmin 496 • Garmin Audio Panel with Intercom.”
According to the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), the VS1 (stall speed. clean) was 88 KIAS. The Vso (stall. in landing configuration) was 64 KIAS.
On May 4, 2026, the airplane was involved in a takeoff incident at KVGT, at the time I wrote the following description:
"On May 4, 2026, at about 1728 local time, a Lancair IV-P, N5SV, registered to Plane Metrics LLC, sustained unknown damage when it was involved in an incident at the North Las Vegas Airport (VGT/KVGT), Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
The FAA reported that: “Aircraft attempted to abort takeoff and drifted into the dirt clipping a runway light.” ADS-B data shows that the airplane taxied from the ramp and began departing from the intersection of runway 12R and runway 7. The airplane used ~2200 ft of the 5000 ft runway before it commenced an aborted takeoff at 95 knots groundspeed. The airplane would travel an additional 2160 ft before it drifted to the left off the departure end and came to a stop. At 1653, the winds were from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 22 knots."
- Wreckage and Impact Information:
The airplane collided with a powerline and came to rest upright about 0.55 mile from the departure end of the runway. The airplane was consumed by a post crash fire. Both wings remained attached to the airframe, but sustained significant thermal damage. The engine remained attached to the airframe and sustained impact and thermal damage. The tail was impact damaged and separated from the airframe and was free of fire damage. It appears the tail was separated by the impact with the powerline.
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| Figure: Airplane as it came to rest, note tail in background |
- Airport Information:
Hicks Airfield is a non-towered public airport located 14 miles northwest of Fort Worth, Texas. The airport field elevation was 855 ft. The airport features a single asphalt runway 14/32 which is 3740 x 60 ft
- Weather:
Weather conditions at the time included calm winds, 10 miles visibility, temperature 24 °C, dewpoint 14 °C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 1995 ft.
METAR KAFW 071353Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/14 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02000144 $
METAR KAFW 071453Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02390139 53017 $
METAR KAFW 071553Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW010 27/13 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP163 FU FEW010 T02720128 $