# Accident 20131011020019A: Sutphin John E RANS S-12, French Lick, IN, October 11, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 11, 2013, 17:09 local time
- Place: French Lick, IN
- Airport: French Lick Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5061° N, 86.6369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5061&lon=-86.6369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8028W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8028W-2023-09-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sutphin John E RANS S-12 (registry code 05626VP, https://openairdocs.org/model/sutphin-john-e-rans-s-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUTPHIN JOHN E RANS S-12
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,012 total, 10 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131011020019A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN14LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA045), Oct 11, 2013: Sutphin Rans S-12 (N8028W), French Lick, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in a steep turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/mush at a low altitude.

## Other reports on N8028W (1)

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

- [Accident 20220831015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220831015639A), Aug 31, 2022: Sutphin John E RANS S-12 (N8028W), Hillard, FL, Destroyed. On 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,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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