Fatal Inflight Fire and Crash of a Velocity XLT-RG near Banning, California (Nov 22, 2022)

Fire/smoke (non-impact): Velocity XLT-RG, N101BH, fatal accident occurred November 22, 2022, near Banning Municipal Airport (BNG/KBNG), Banning, California:

On November 22, 2022, about 1824, Pacific standard time, an experimental, amateur-built XLT-RG (Velocity), N101BH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Banning, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Multiple witnesses observed fire and a trail of smoke coming from the rear of the experimental, amateur-built airplane as it flew overhead; the airplane was equipped with a rearmounted engine. The airplane appeared to be in a level flight attitude and the fire progressively worsened as it continued toward a nearby airport. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground about 11/2 miles northeast of the airport, where most of the airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the inflight fire likely started near the turbocharger; however, the exact origin could not be determined due to damage from the inflight and postcrash fires. There were no other mechanical malfunctions or failures identified during the postaccident examination that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause: An inflight engine fire for reasons that could not be determined that resulted in impact with terrain.

Report:
data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain…

Docket:
data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106352

00:00 - 01:09 - Dashcam Recording
01:10 - 01:44 - CCTV Video (thumbnail)
01:45 - 01:59 - NTSB Analysis/Cause
02:00 - 03:20 - Photos