| Crash location | 38.845000°N, 99.273889°W |
| Nearest city | Hays, KS
38.879178°N, 99.326770°W 3.7 miles away |
| Tail number | N70718 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 13 Jun 2004 |
| Aircraft type | Youkey Lancair 235 |
| Additional details: | None |
On June 13, 2004, at 1045 central daylight time, a Lancair 235, N70718, collided with a runway marker sign and taxiway lights while landing on runway 16 (6,500 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at the Hays Regional Airport, Hays, Kansas. The private pilot and passenger on board were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Sedalia, Missouri, at 0715.
The owner of the local fixed base operator stated the airplane departed the runway approximately 3,000 feet from the approach end. He stated the airplane traveled off the east (left) side of the runway where it contacted the sign and taxiway lights prior to coming to rest a couple hundred feet off the side of the runway.
Local winds reported at 1035 were from 190 degrees at 23 knots gusting to 28 knots.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind, the runway marker sign, and the taxiway lights which were contacted.