# NTSB ATL05LA110: Casten Rans S-10, N327AN, Perry, SC, June 23, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2005, 11:58 local (15:58 UTC) - Place: Perry, SC - Coordinates: 33.629165, -81.329719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6292&lon=-81.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Columbia FSDO - 13 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61782 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61782/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA110 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot mismanagement. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was performing taxi drills prior to departing Wagener, and observed flying towards Perry Gliderport. The airplane was observed making a low approach over the runway at Perry Gliderport. When the airplane flew over the runway, the engine was heard sputtering about 600 feet from the departure end of the runway. The airplane had climbed about 100 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. As the pilot initiated a 180-degree turn, the airplane collided with the ground. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed the airplane rested in a nose down attitude on the northeast side of runway 7. The engine and firewall were crushed aft toward the cockpit. The right wing was crushed at the wing root with crush damage extending outward toward the wing tip. Examination of the fuel system revealed fuel was present in the carburetor and was present in the fuel lines. No fuel was present on the filter side of the fuel filter. No fuel was recovered from either fuel tank. The examination revealed that the fuel tanks were not ruptured. No browning of vegetation was present at the accident site. The engine cowling and cockpit doors were removed prior to the flight and not found with the wreckage. There were no apparent mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 23, 2005, at 1158 eastern daylight time, a Casten Rans S-10 experimental airplane, N327AN, registered to a pending applicant and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with the ground at Perry International Airport, in Perry, South Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Wagener, South Carolina, at an undetermined time on June 23, 2005. Witnesses stated the airplane was performing taxi drills prior to departing Wagener, and observed the airplane turn toward Perry Glider port after takeoff. The airplane was observed making a low approach over the runway at Perry Glider port. When the airplane flew over the runway, the engine was heard sputtering about 600 feet from the departure end of the runway. The airplane started a climb and was 100 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. The pilot turned 180 degrees, and airplane collided with the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of records on file with the Airmen Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, revealed the pilot was issued a commercial certificate on April 20, 1982, with ratings for airplane single engine land, and instrument airplane. In addition, the pilot held a ground instructor certificate issued April 7, 1992. The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on August 12, 2002, with the restriction, "must have available glasses for near vision." The pilot's total time at his last medical examination was 3,300 hours. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Review of aircraft records on file with the FAA Aircraft Registry, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma revealed there was no current aircraft registration on file. No airplane maintenance logs were recovered for review. It was reported by the previous owner of the airplane that the airplane had been refueled with an auto fuel/oil premix about two weeks before the accident. The airplane had been taxied numerous times after the airplane was refueled. The exact amount of fuel on board the airplane at the last departure was not determined. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1156, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, West Columbia, South Carolina weather surface observation, at 1156, winds 090-magnetic, at ten knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear, temperature 31-degrees, Celsius, a dew-point 16-degrees, Celsius, and altimeter 30.60. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane on the ground in a nose down attitude. The airplane rested 400 feet to the left of the northeast side of runway 07. The engine assembly was displaced downward and remained attached to the engine mounts. The firewall was buckled. One propeller blade had separated from the propeller flange. The remaining propeller was attached to the propeller flange. Torsional twisting and bending was not present on either propeller blade. The right wing was displaced rearward. The leading edge of the wing was crushed from the wing root extending outboard to the wing tip. The left wing was attached and was not damaged. External examination of the engine revealed full intake and exhaust valve action, and compression and suction was present in all cylinders. Internal engine components rotated freely. Continuity of the crankshaft and drive gears were established through to the accessory section. Examination of the fuel system revealed fuel was present in the carburetor and was present in the fuel lines. No fuel was present on the filter side of the fuel filter. No fuel was recovered from either fuel tank. The examination revealed that the fuel tanks were not ruptured. No browning of vegetation was present at the accident site. MEDICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Lexington County Coroner, Lexington, South Carolina, performed the autopsy of the pilot on June 24, 2005. The reputed cause of death was "blunt trauma." The Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed postmortem toxicology of specimens of the pilot. The toxicology examinations were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. Quinine and propranolol were detected in the blood. Propranolol was also found in the urine. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The airplane was released to the owner on June 24, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N327AN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N327AN-2012-07-24), registration cancelled 2012-07-24, S/N 0688018, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Casten Rans S-10 - Registry model: [Casten George P RANS S-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/casten-george-p-rans-s-10) (registry code 05616KW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0688018 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Wagener, SC - Destination: SC95, Perry, SC - Airport: SC95, Perry International Airport, runway 7, 5,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 1996; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KCAE, 21 nm away ## 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 20050623012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050623012629A), Jun 23, 2005: Amtr RANSS10, Perry, SC, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft doing a fly by down rnwy 8 into the wind when at tree top level abt 100', the engine sputtered and quit. At the end of the rnwy the aircraft… 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.