# NTSB ANC22LA013: Leach Michael Rans S7S, N828S, Winnemucca, NV, January 16, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 16, 2022, 07:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Winnemucca, NV
- Coordinates: 40.91, -117.79417 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9100&lon=-117.7942&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104542/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104542
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA013

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to ensure the airplane’s wings were free of contaminates before departure.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Leach Michael RANS S7S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05619IH), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Leach Michael RANS S7S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=05619IH), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Leach Michael RANS S7S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=05619IH), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, before takeoff he noticed a visible layer of frost covering the airplane’s wings. He removed the frost with a towel and proceeded with the engine warm up and preflight checks which lasted about 20 minutes. During the initial climb, the airplane felt “mushy” and failed to gain altitude. The pilot elected to conduct an off-airport landing to a brush covered field. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that the frost must have reformed before takeoff and that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N828S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N828S-2023-02-08), registration cancelled 2023-02-08, S/N 0504374, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEACH MICHAEL RANS S7S
- Registry model: [Leach Michael RANS S7S](https://openairdocs.org/model/leach-michael-rans-s7s) (registry code 05619IH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0504374
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 1326
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, January 30, 2021, 42 hours before
- Departed: KWMC, Winnemucca, NV
- Destination: UO2, Blackfoot, ID
- Airport: WMC, Winnemucca Municipal Airport, runway 020, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 973 total, 550 in this make and model, 973 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Observed at: KWMC, 1 nm away
- METAR: KWMC 161656Z AUTO 08003KT 10SM CLR M01/M03 A3027 RMK AO2 SLP273 T10111033

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20220116000709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220116000709A), Jan 16, 2022: Leach Michael RANS S7S, Winnemucca, NV, Substantial damage. -Upon arrival at airport (approx. 6:30AM local), temperature was approx. 22 deg, And sky clear, wind calm -A layer of frost was visible on wings, prop and…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104542. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13444989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA013%206120-1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13160173&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC22LA013-Rel.pdf

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.