# Accident 20200712004759A: David D Lake RANS S6 ES COYOTE II, Benton City, WA, July 12, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2020, 11:50 local time
- Place: Benton City, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.4103° N, 119.5856° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4103&lon=-119.5856&mi=10
- Aircraft: N644RS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N644RS-2021-09-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: David D Lake RANS S6 ES COYOTE II (registry code 05637PY, https://openairdocs.org/model/david-d-lake-rans-s6-es-coyote-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Suzuki G13BB (registry code 59305, https://openairdocs.org/engine/suzuki-g13bb) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DAVID D LAKE RANS S6 ES COYOTE II
- Reported engine: SUZUKI G13BB
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,905 total, 129 in this make and model, 84 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA218) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200712004759A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED HE WAS FLYING AT 2800 FT MSL AND  OBSERVED  ELK ON THE RATTLESNAKE MOUTAIN. HE TURNED RIGHT TOWARD MOUNTAIN FOR PICTURES. AS HE APPROACHED MOUNTAIN HE FELT THE LIFT DROP AND HE BELIEVES HE WAS IN A DOWN DRAFT. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND TURNED STEEP LEFT AWAY FROM MOUNTAIN. AIRCRAFT DROPPED 800 FT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP RATE OF DESCENT BEFORE STRIKING GROUND, WHILE STILL IN BANK, WITH LEFT GEAR FIRST. LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED ON IMPACT AND LEFT WING STRUCK GROUND. THEY SLID SIDEWAYS IN THE SAGE BRUSH. CAME TO REST ON HILLSIDE, RH GEAR ALSO BENT AND AFT FUSELAGE BENT.

## 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 WPR20CA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA218), Jul 12, 2020: Rans S6 (N644RS), Richland, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to arrest a descent rate or maintain altitude after encountering a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude near mountainous terrain that resulted in a hard landing.

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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