Federal investigators will examine the wreckage of a single-engine plane Thursday after preliminary information indicated the aircraft experienced engine issues before crashing near Hicks Airfield in northwest Fort Worth, killing its pilot.
The Lancair IV-P crashed at about 9:50 a.m. Wednesday near West Bonds Ranch Road and Thatcher Road, southeast of Hicks Airfield. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that only the pilot was aboard.
Fort Worth firefighters found the aircraft engulfed in flames. The pilot, an unidentified man, died at the scene. Authorities reported no other injuries.
The crash also damaged power lines and sparked a grass fire, which firefighters extinguished.
Fort Worth Fire Department stated that “the crash happened in close proximity to a residential neighborhood but thankfully no injuries or damage to homes were reported.”
Engine Trouble Preceded Attempted Return
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the federal investigation and expected an investigator to arrive at the crash site Thursday.
“Preliminary information indicates the airplane had engine issues, and it turned back toward the airport,” an NTSB spokesperson said in an email to KERA.
The NTSB also said a post-impact fire followed the crash.
The agency has not determined what caused the engine problem or the crash.
The NTSB explains that investigators can examine wreckage, gather records, interview witnesses and analyze aircraft components as they work to establish an accident’s probable cause.
The NTSB told KERA that it expects to publish a preliminary report on the Fort Worth crash within 30 days.
That preliminary report will not constitute a final determination of probable cause.
Aircraft Was Registered In Fort Worth
FAA registry records list the aircraft as N5SV, a 2000 Lancair IV-P registered to Plane Metrics LLC in Fort Worth.
The registry identifies the plane as a fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft with a reciprocating Continental IO-550-series engine. FAA registry records list its registration expiration as May 31, 2028.
FAA records classify the aircraft as experimental and amateur-built.
The FAA defines an amateur-built aircraft as one in which the builder fabricated and assembled the major portion of the aircraft for education or recreation.
That classification describes the aircraft’s certification category. It does not indicate what caused Wednesday’s crash.
The airplane came down a short distance southeast of Hicks Airfield. Emergency crews shut down a section of Bonds Ranch Road following the crash.
Federal investigators have so far identified engine trouble only as preliminary information. The investigation must still determine what failed aboard the aircraft and what factors contributed to the fatal crash.
