# NTSB ATL95LA081: Eccker, Donald E. Rans S-10, N67CD, Wilson, NC, April 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1995, 19:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: Wilson, NC - Coordinates: 35.729858, -77.920928 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7299&lon=-77.9209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3548 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3548/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA081 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TOUCHDOWN PHASE OF THE EMERGENCY LANDING TO THE RUNWAY. THE LACK OF A CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM AND THE CARBURETOR ICING WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - anti-ice/deice system,carburetor/heat - not installed (contributing factor) - Forced landing, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON FINAL APPROACH. WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA REVEALED THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE A CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM INSTALLED. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1995, at 1923 eastern daylight time, an Eccker Rans S-10, N67CD, homebuilt airplane, collided with the ground during landing at the Wilson Industrial Air Center, in Wilson, North Carolina. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The local flight departed Wilson, North Carolina, at 1900 hours. The aircraft owner stated that the pilot had stopped at his hangar, which he was cleaning at the time, and requested to fly his airplane, which he had done on previous occasions. The owner watched the pilot as he taxied to runway 3. He then observed the pilot conducting touch and go landings to runway 3. Several minutes after the initial takeoff, the owner noticed that the pilot was on left base for what appeared to be runway 15. The airplane then impacted the ground, according to the owner. The inspector from the Flight Standards District Office at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who examined the wreckage, indicated that the landing gear had been collapsed, and was broken at the struts, and that the cabin area had also collapsed. The engine was curled underneath the fuselage, damaging the engine mounts and the firewall. The accident site examination disclosed that debris from the left wing tip was on the ground on the left side of the runway. According to the inspector, when he interviewed the hospitalized pilot, the pilot reported that he did not remember the circumstances, other than the engine would not respond to applied power. The inspector examined the airplane and engine. He discovered that there was continuity of the flight controls and the engine. All of the engine cylinders were intact; the spark plugs were described as serviceable. The carburetor was damaged from impact. The carburetor linkages were connected. The engine examination disclosed that there was not a carburetor heat system installed on this aircraft. There was no binding of the engine when rotated. The flight controls moved without binding and the cables were connected. A review of the weather information disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The owner of the airplane was requested to complete the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. According to the owner, the form was given to the pilot to complete his portion. Additionally, the pilot was given and mailed two NTSB 6120.1/2 by the FAA inspector. None of the three forms was received. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67CD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67CD-1997-04-02), registration cancelled 1997-04-02, S/N 0191122 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ECCKER, DONALD E. RANS S-10 - Registry model: [Eccker Donald E RANS S-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/eccker-donald-e-rans-s-10) (registry code 056188A) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0191122 - Airframe hours: 261 - Engines: ROTAX 582 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mancrief, William S. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1994, 30 hours before - Departed: W03 - Airport: W03, Wilson Industral Air Cent, runway 15, 4,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,650 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RWI, 5 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 19950411007229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950411007229A), Apr 11, 1995: Amtr RANSS10, Wilson, NC, Substantial damage. Lost power on final. Lost control trying for runway. No anomalies found. Possible carb ice. No carb heat installed. 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.