# NTSB CEN09LA034: Rans S-12XL, N20530, Breckenridge, TX, October 24, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2008, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Breckenridge, TX - Coordinates: 32.718887, -98.891113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7189&lon=-98.8911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 5, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 69352 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69352/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) ## 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 best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20530](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20530-2009-04-15), registration cancelled 2009-04-15, S/N 12010937, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rans S-12XL (Airaile) - Registry model: [Rans Employee FLG Club RANS S-12XL AIRAILE](https://openairdocs.org/model/rans-employee-flg-club-rans-s-12xl-airaile) (registry code 05605Z9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 12010937 - Airframe hours: 277 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081024849699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081024849699A), Oct 24, 2008: Rans RANSS12XLAIR, Breckenridge, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On October 24, 2008 pilot [privacy data omitted] departed eastland airport en route to Stephens County Airport in a ran S-12XL aircraft, N20530. The… 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.