- Date
- July 13, 2013, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place
- Schertz, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N137ABAlvarez Marvin R Rans S-6S
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA San Antonio FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130713013939A
- Case key
- 87549
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The noncertificated pilot's operation of the airplane, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he had not held any kind of pilot certificate since his student pilot certificate expired about 40 years ago. He also reported that he had no record of receiving any flight instruction. During takeoff, after liftoff from the departure end of the runway, the airspeed was too slow and the airplane would not climb and would not accelerate. The airplane drifted to the left and impacted trees and terrain on the edge of the airfield property. After the pilot and passenger exited the airplane there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by the postimpact fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that has not held any kind of pilot certificate since his student pilot certificate expired about 40 years ago. He also reported that he has no record of receiving any flight instruction. During takeoff, after liftoff from the departure end of the runway, the airspeed was too slow and the airplane would not climb and would not accelerate. The airplane drifted to the left and impacted trees and terrain on the edge of the airfield property. After the pilot and passenger exited the airplane there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by the postimpact fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He also reported that he is really lucky to be alive after this accident and "this accident will do it for him ... he is going to stop flying now".
Aircraft
- Registration
- N137AB
- Reported as
- Alvarez Marvin R Rans S-6S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 09041605
- Built
- 2006
- Engine
- Rotax 912, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- TS67 · Schertz, TX
- Destination
- TS67 · Schertz, TX
- Airport
- TS67 · Kitty Hawk Flying Field, runway 14, 650 × 20 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
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 200 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KRND, 5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 214 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N137AB · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.