20130518007409A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL · Cleveland, GA · May 18, 2013

Date: May 18, 2013 · 19:45 local
Place: Cleveland, GA
Airport: Mountain Airpark
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N81788
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA13CA250
Reported as: Thomas David W Rans S-12 XL
Reported engine: ROTAX 912UL
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Sport pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,585 total

N81788Registration cancelled Mar 10, 2014 · Thomas David W RANS S-12 XLS/N 10950663-0197 · Built 1996 Airframe modelThomas David W RANS S-12 XL Engine modelRotax SEE BOMBADIERReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot in command, being unfamiliar with this model aircraft and having zero time in model, failed to maintain adequate airspeed after take off when transitioning from a northerly heading to southerly heading. A stall of the aircraft was observed followed by impact into a pond. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT IN COMMAND, BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS MODEL AIRCRAFT AND HAVING ZERO TIME IN MODEL, FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AFTER TAKE OFF WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM A NORTHERLY HEADING TO SOUTHERLY HEADING. A STALL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FOLLOWED BY IMPACT INTO A POND. THE IMPACT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA13CA250Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCleveland, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of overall recent flight experience and lack of experience in make and model.May 18, 2013 · Substantial damage