# NTSB CEN12LA102: Shook Rans S-12, N7138K, Festus, MO, December 8, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 8, 2011, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Festus, MO - Coordinates: 38.194999, -90.385559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1950&lon=-90.3856&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA102 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor’s delayed remedial action as the airplane neared an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was that the student pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05626VH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving flight instruction toward a sport-pilot license. Neither the student pilot nor his instructor had flown the airplane before the accident flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the airplane was too high on final approach in order to land on the first third of the runway and that he told the student pilot to perform a go-around while the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway. The student pilot applied maximum engine power, and the airplane entered a steep left climbing turn. The student pilot overcorrected and the airplane subsequently entered a steep right turn. The CFI reported that the airplane was approaching an imminent aerodynamic stall/spin when he assumed control. The airplane collided with trees during the subsequent stall/spin recovery. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He said that the accident could have been prevented had he assumed direct control of the airplane sooner instead of providing verbal corrective actions to the student pilot. ## Factual narrative On December 8, 2011, at 1645 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Shook Rans S-12 airplane, N7138K, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees near Festus, Missouri. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Festus Memorial Airport (KFES), Festus, Missouri, at 1615. The student pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving flight instruction toward a sport-pilot license. Neither the student pilot nor his instructor had flown the airplane before the accident flight. The purpose of the flight was to practice takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was too high on final approach in order to land on the first third of the runway and that he told the student pilot to perform a go-around while the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway. Shortly afterward, the student pilot applied maximum engine power and the airplane entered a steep left climbing turn. The student pilot over corrected and the airplane subsequently entered a steep right turn. The flight instructor reported that the airplane was in an incipient aerodynamic stall/spin when he assumed control of the airplane. The airplane collided with trees during the subsequent stall/spin recovery, resulting in substantial damage to both of the wings, tailboom, and empennage. The flight instructor stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, he noted that the accident could have been prevented had he assumed direct control of the airplane sooner instead of providing verbal corrective actions to the student pilot. The nearest aviation weather observation station with recorded historical weather information was at St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS), about 29 miles north-northeast of the accident site, which was equipped with an automated surface observing system (ASOS). At 1653, the KCPS ASOS reported the following weather conditions: calm wind; visibility 10 miles; sky clear; temperature 4 degrees Celsius; dew point -4 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.19 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7138K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7138K), registered now, S/N 1094523, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Shook Rans S-12 - Registry model: [Shook Mark S RANS S-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/shook-mark-s-rans-s-12) (registry code 05626VH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1094523 - Airframe hours: 304 - Engines: Rotax 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 8, 2011 - Departed: KFES, Festus, MO - Destination: KFES, Festus, MO - Airport: KFES, Festus Memorial Airport, runway 18, 2,202 × 49 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 3,200 total, 0 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 60; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 23 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KCPS, 25 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 20111208029079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111208029079A), Dec 8, 2011: Shook Mark S RANS S-12, Festus, MO, Substantial damage. On 12/8/2011, N7138K (rans S-12 experimental aircraft) crashed near Festus memorial airport (fes) in Festus, MO. There were two occupants of the aircraft, a… ## Other investigations on N7138K (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN04LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA051), Mar 8, 2004: Shook Rans S-12 (N7138K), Berthoud, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper flare and his inadequate compensation for wind. The wind gust was a contributing factor. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82496. 787 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Tony Guy) (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Tony%20Guy)-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Jason McCoy) (item 4, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Jason%20McCoy)-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (Norm Loftsgard) (item 5, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20(Norm%20Loftsgard)-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports (item 6, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-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.