# Accident 20150603008279A: Rans S-12XL, Sharpsville, IN, June 3, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 3, 2015, 12:40 local time
- Place: Sharpsville, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3903° N, 86.1500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3903&lon=-86.1500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51120, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51120-2015-07-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rans S-12XL (registry code 059012N, https://openairdocs.org/model/rans-s-12xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 2200 (registry code 34800, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RANS S-12XL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 224 total, 224 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150603008279A

## Narrative

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

JUNE 3, 2015 AT 12:40 A.M. LOCAL TIME, A 1996 RANS S-12XL AIRCRAFT, N51120 CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP IN SHARPSVILLE, INDIANA. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM CONTACTING THE AIRCRAFT OWNER?S POLE BARN.

DURING TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WAS COMPENSATING FOR A PREVAILING CROSSWIND CONDITION THAT PUT HIS FLIGHT PATH IN LINE WITH HITTING HIS RESIDENCE. THE PILOT SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE OBSTACLES AHEAD OF AND TO THE RIGHT OF HIS HEADING, SO HE OPTED TO TURN LEFT TOWARD HIS BARN, WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO AVOID. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE BARN?S RAIN GUTTER CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PENETRATE THROUGH THE BARN?S ROOF STRUCTURE.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND HE DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN FOR THIS FLIGHT. THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SOLE OCCUPANT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT WITH A VALID SPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE. HE HAS ABOUT 224 HOURS IN THIS PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT.

## 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 GAA15CA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA105), Jun 3, 2015: Rans S 12XL (N51120), Sharpsville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a building.

## Other reports on N51120 (1)

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

- [Incident 20140803013599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140803013599I), Aug 3, 2014: Rans S-12XL (N51120), Sharpsville, IN, No damage. On August 3, 2014, at approximately 2000HR. Eastern daylight time, a Rans S-12XL, N51120, landed off airport due to a loss of engine power. The engine, a…

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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