Banning, CA, USA
N101BH
GALLAGHER XLT-RG
On November 22, 2022, about 1824, Pacific standard time, an 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 cross-country personal flight. A witness stated that he was driving on Interstate 10 when he noticed a trail of smoke and fire from the rear of the airplane. The witness said that the airplane appeared to be in a stable flight condition as it crossed the Interstate and there were no erratic movements. As the airplane continued its flight path toward the Banning Municipal Airport (BNG), the fire progressively got worse. Shortly after, the airplane entered a right bank and impacted terrain. Security camera video footage of the accident airplane showed the airplane on fire prior to the impact with desert terrain. Additional dashcam video showed the accident airplane on fire before it impacted terrain. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted terrain about 1-1/2 miles northeast of the Banning Municipal Airport (BNG), Banning, California. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was damage to vegetation, with branches displaced toward the direction of the main wreckage. All major structural components of the airplane were observed within the debris path. Photo 1: View of Accident Site from the FIPC. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further investigation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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