# NTSB ATL03LA043: Penska Rans S-9, N34AP, Dothan, AL, February 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 9, 2003, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Dothan, AL - Coordinates: 31.321388, -85.449447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3214&lon=-85.4494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - 09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56469 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56469/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56469 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and subsequent inflight collision with the ground ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - evasive maneuver - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff he made a steep left turn to avoid other aircraft in the immediate area. The pilot stated, "he allowed the airplane to get slow and stall". The pilot estimated that he was approximately 100 feet above ground level in a steep left turn. Subsequently the airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude. The on scene examination of the airplane found no binding crimping or any other restriction to flight control movement aft of the cockpit. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 2003, at 1130 central standard time, an Allan J. Penska Rans S-9 experimental airplane, N34AP, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with the ground in the back yard of a private residence shortly after takeoff in Dothan, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight originated from a local residence backyard in Gordon, Alabama, at 1128 on February 9, 2003. According to the pilot, the experimental airplane took off from the backyard of a private residence and climbed to 400 feet. Shortly after takeoff the pilot made a steep left turn to avoid other aircraft in the immediate area. In a written statement, the pilot stated the elevator control of the airplane failed and the airplane headed toward the ground. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude in a field approximately 1/4 mile from the departure point. During a subsequent conversation, the pilot stated that "he allowed the airplane to get slow and stall". The pilot estimated that he was approximately 100 feet above ground level at 60 mph in a steep left turn. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was separated from the fuselage. The on-scene examination of the airplane found no binding, crimping or any other restriction to flight control movement aft of the cockpit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34AP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34AP-2012-02-28), registration cancelled 2012-02-28, S/N 0293119, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Penska Rans S-9 - Registry model: [Penksa Allan J RANS S-9](https://openairdocs.org/model/penksa-allan-j-rans-s-9) (registry code 05602B7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: NONE - Airframe hours: 148 - Engines: Rotax 503CID 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2002, 8 hours before - Departed: Dothan, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 2,804 total, 10 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: DHN ## 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 20030209001499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030209001499A), Feb 9, 2003: Amtr RANSS9, Dothan, AL, Destroyed. (-23) On February 9, 2003, at approximately 1130 CST, the pilot in command of a rans, S-9, experimental aircraft, N34AP, departed from an unimproved airfield… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56469. 374 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA E-Mail Statement (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20E-Mail%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40208797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.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.