CEN09LA034

NTSB accident investigation · Rans S-12XL · Breckenridge, TX · October 24, 2008

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 24, 2008, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC)
Place
Breckenridge, TX
Injuries
2 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N20530Rans S-12XL
Defining event
Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 5, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20081024849699A
Case key
69352

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.

Analysis

According to the pilot, he had flown over to a neighboring airport in clear weather, with wind from the south at five to six knots. He took off on runway 17 and turned left base for a touch-and-go landing on runway 22. He noted that he allowed his airspeed to get too low on short final and he then applied power for a go-around. He made a slight left turn, but the airplane's right wing "dropped in [a] stall." The pilot was unable to recover. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On October 24, 2008, approximately 1210 central daylight time, a Rans S-12XL Airaile, N20530, registered to and operated by an airline transport certificated pilot, was destroyed when the it struck terrain during an attempted go-around at Stephens County Airport (BKD), Breckenridge, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were seriously injured. The local flight originated at Eastland Municipal Airport (ETN), Eastland, Texas at 1200. According to the pilot's accident report, he had flown over to a neighboring airport. He said the weather was clear and the wind was from the south at five to six knots. There was no other traffic in the pattern. He took off on runway 17 and turned left base for a touch and-go landing on runway 22. He allowed his airspeed to get too low on short final and he applied power for a go-around. He made a slight left turn, but the airplane's right wing "dropped in [a] stall." The pilot was unable to recover. The pilot told an FAA inspector there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N20530
Reported as
Rans S-12XL (Airaile)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
12010937
Airframe hours
277
Engine
Bombardier Rotex 912SL, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Henry K. Jaeger
Registered owner
Henry K. Jaeger
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · September 26, 2008 · 71 hours before
Departed
ETN · Eastland, TX
Destination
BKD · Breckenridge, TX
Airport
BKD · Stephens County, runway 22, 2,399 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
73
Injuries
Serious
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
November 13, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
25,000 total · 230 in this make and model · 105 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
30.06 inHg
Observed at
BKD

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.