# NTSB CEN09CA498: Rans Employee Flying Club Rans S-6S, N91226, Montezuma, IN, July 31, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2009, 12:06 local (16:06 UTC) - Place: Montezuma, IN - Coordinates: 39.840831, -87.339447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8408&lon=-87.3394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA498 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74460/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74460 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA498 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after takeoff resulting in an impact with a power line and the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=05610KM), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local flight from his private airstrip. The pilot stated that he felt a gust of wind from the west and was not able to maintain control of the airplane. He stated that he did not anticipate the wind directional change as the wind sock was "down" when he took off. The airplane’s left wing impacted a powerline and the airplane impacted terrain. A ground fire occurred. ## Factual narrative The pilot departed on a local flight from his private airstrip. The pilot stated, “I feel a gust of wind from the West got me into trouble and I was not able to regain control of my plane. I did not anticipate this directional change as the wind sock was down upon take-off.” The airplane’s left wing impacted a powerline and the airplane impacted terrain. A ground fire occurred. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91226](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91226-2009-10-22), registration cancelled 2009-10-22, S/N 08001385, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RANS EMPLOYEE FLYING CLUB RANS S-6S - Registry model: [Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S](https://openairdocs.org/model/rans-employee-flying-club-rans-s-6s) (registry code 05610KM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 08001385 - Airframe hours: 136 - Engines: BOMBARDIER 912 SUL 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald J. Garrard - Registered owner: Rockville Business Properties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2009 - Departed: 9IN6, MONTEZUMA, IN - Destination: 9IN6, MONTEZUMA, IN - Airport: 9IN6, Garrard Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2009; flight hours: 357 total, 136 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PRG ## 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 20090731016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090731016799A), Jul 31, 2009: Amtr RANSS6S, Montezuma, IN, Destroyed. Takeoff roll was initiated at the north end of a 600' mowed grass area, north of and attached to 9IN6, with one passenger. Temperature was approximately 80 deg… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74460. 841 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 841 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.