# Accident 20240920022149A: Rans S-14, Teague, TX, September 20, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 20, 2024, 16:40 local time
- Place: Teague, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.6295° N, 96.2808° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Teague, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6295&lon=-96.2808&mi=10
- Aircraft: UNKN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RANS S-14
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Recreational pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 386 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240920022149A

## Narrative

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

A WITNESS SPOKE TO THE PILOT AND SAID THAT HE HAD JUST COMPLETED MAINTENANCE THAT INVOLVED THE ADJUSTMENT OF HIS CARBURETOR AND "CONTROL WORK", WITNESS WAS UNCERTAIN IF IT WAS FLIGHT CONTROL OR POWER CONTROLS. AFTER ADJUSTMENT THE OWNER / PILOT TOOK THE AIRCRAFT FOR WHAT HE CALLED A "TEST FLIGHT".  AIRCRAFT STARTED NORMAL AND TOOK OFF NORMALLY. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CLIMB AND CROSSED THE AIRPORT PROPERTY LINE AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER. WITNESS WAS UNCERTAIN IF IT WENT TO IDLE OR COMPLETELY OFF.  THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE SHARP BANK TO RETURN CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO LOSE EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE, ONCE BACK ON AIRPORT PROPERTY THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE, THEN THE GROUND AT A STEEP UNNATURAL ANGLE, THIS CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO PANCAKE (CRUSHING THE CREW COMPARTMENT) AND BOUNCED ONCE TO ITS FINAL RESTING SPOT. AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY MUTILATED, AND THE FAA WAS UNABLE TO INVESTIGATE ANY CONTROLS TO EITHER POWER OR FLIGHT, BUT IT DID REVEAL THAT ONE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE OTHER STILL HAD APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF A TANK OF FUEL. COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM LINES FROM THE TANK TO THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO NTSB FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION WHICH INCLUDED A DEVICE THAT ACTED AS A FUEL SELECTOR

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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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