NTSB Factual Report

On July 17, 2017, at about 1650 mountain standard time, a single-engine experimental Lancair Evolution, N571JM, impacted terrain following a loss of control while on approach to Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The cross-country business flight departed from Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, Phoenix, Arizona about 1555 with a planned destination of John Wayne-Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed and activated.

Phoenix Approach and Falcon Field Air Traffic Control (ATC) controllers were in contact with the pilot. The pilot transmitted that he needed to divert to Falcon Field airport about 1617 "just in case, my system is not charging" explaining that he had an incident "the other day" where his primary and multifunction displays "just died on me and I don't think its going to happen before we get to Falcon, but if you could keep me on a direct heading to Falcon that would be great." The pilot was cleared to land runway 22L and he transmitted to the controllers that "an electrical failure is probably imminent here," and then requested to cross mid-field to enter the downwind. He then explained that he was "still having an electrical issue," and that he "had one on Friday" and his electrical system was about to go dead.

Numerous witnesses that were located in the vicinity of the accident site reported seeing the airplane maneuvering very low and making a steep left turn. They stated that the airplane then went into a nose-low, near-vertical decent. The airplane impacted a golf course and erupted in flames.

The airplane was recovered from the accident site for further examination.