20131011020019A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Sutphin John E RANS S-12 · French Lick, IN · October 11, 2013

Date: October 11, 2013 · 17:09 local
Place: French Lick, IN
Airport: French Lick Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8028W
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN14LA045
Reported as: Sutphin John E Rans S-12
Reported engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,012 total10 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N8028WRegistration cancelled Sep 23, 2023 · Sutphin John E RANS S-12S/N 0894513 · Built 1995 Airframe modelSutphin John E RANS S-12 Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

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.

On October 11, 2013 at approximately 1630 hours EST, a 1995 "Sutphin John E" rans S-12 experimental amateur built aircraft, N8028W, sustained substantial damage following a collision with a tree while on approach to French Lick Municipal Airport (frh) located near French Lick, Indiana.

The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The aircraft was registered to privacy data omitted and was operated under 14 CFR part 91 as a personal flight with day VMC conditions. No flight plan was filed nor required.

The pilot stated while turning to the approach 1/2 mile south of frh at 600FT altitude and 55 knots indicated airspeed, he noticed a faster than normal descent. He fully advanced the throttles and pulled the stick to his chest. The uncontrolled descent continued with no gain in airspeed. He pushed the stick forward to gain airspeed but was unable to regain control. The aircraft struck and became lodged atop a tree approximately 60 feet from the ground.

As the FAA filed it

ON OCTOBER 11, 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 HOURS EST, A 1995 "SUTPHIN JOHN E" RANS S-12 EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT, N8028W, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING A COLLISION WITH A TREE WHILE ON APPROACH TO FRENCH LICK MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (FRH) LOCATED NEAR FRENCH LICK, INDIANA.

THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS REGISTERED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT WITH DAY VMC CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED NOR REQUIRED.

THE PILOT STATED WHILE TURNING TO THE APPROACH 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF FRH AT 600FT ALTITUDE AND 55 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED, HE NOTICED A FASTER THAN NORMAL DESCENT. HE FULLY ADVANCED THE THROTTLES AND PULLED THE STICK TO HIS CHEST. THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT CONTINUED WITH NO GAIN IN AIRSPEED. HE PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD TO GAIN AIRSPEED BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AND BECAME LODGED ATOP A TREE APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET FROM THE GROUND.

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 CEN14LA045Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportFrench Lick, INThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in a steep turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/mush at a low altitude.Oct 11, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8028W · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 20220831015639ALanding: Approach · Hillard, FLOn August 31, 2022, the pilot of [privacy data omitted], a rans S-12, was performing solo touch and go's at Hillard Airpark (01J). At around 1045 local time, the pilot was making his second touch and go when he got distracted at someone cutting the grass at…Aug 31, 2022 · Destroyed