# NTSB CEN15LA431: Edward M Van Morlan Rans S-12, N98ES, Gardner, KS, September 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2015, 08:25 local (13:25 UTC) - Place: Gardner, KS - Coordinates: 38.809722, -94.958053 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8097&lon=-94.9581&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA431 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92076/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92076 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA431 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate airspeed control and the airplane’s exceedance of its critical angle-of-attack during the forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation caused by contaminants in the fuel tank. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05632AR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, shortly after departure, the engine experienced a loss of power, and he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing. A witness observed the airplane pitch up, stall, and roll into a spin before impacting terrain in a near-vertical attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane found that fuel delivery to the engine was restricted by grease in the fuel tanks. It is likely that the engine was starved of fuel due to the grease contamination, which led to the loss of power. However, the pilot did not subsequently maintain the airplane's airspeed and angle-of-attack as he maneuvered for the forced landing, and the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2015, about 0825 central daylight time, a kit-built Rans S-12 experimental light sport airplane, N98ES, collided with terrain while maneuvering to land at the Gardner Municipal Airport (K34), Gardner, Kansas. The private pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight departed K34 shortly before the accident.A witness, who was a private rated pilot, saw the accident airplane taxi from its hanger to runway 8/26. The witness next heard a sound consistent with the airplane's engine increase in rpms followed by a decrease in rpms. He saw the airplane gliding towards runway 17 before the airplane began to slowly pitch up. The witness saw the airplane stall and roll into a left turning spin with the nose pointed towards the ground. The airplane impacted terrain in a near vertical attitude before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he departed from runway 26. Shortly after takeoff, the engine stopped producing power. He nosed the airplane down and maneuvered to avoid a ditch. During the descent, he leveled off to avoid impacting the ground at a steep angle. He recalled that after the crash he could not find the master switch, and could not turn off the right fuel shutoff, so he only closed the left fuel shutoff valve. The airplane was examined by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration. The forward portion of the fuselage and cockpit area was crushed and distorted. Both wings were twisted near their outboard ends. The flaps were retracted. The left fuel tank contained over 7.5 gallons of fuel and the right tank contained about 5 gallons of fuel. Both fuel lines appeared to contain fuel with no visible contaminants. The left fuel switch was off and the right fuel switch was on; both fuel filters were clear of debris. The "ignition 1" switch was off and the "ignition 2"switch was on, however there was damage to the switch housing near the "ignition 1" switch. The pilot reported that in May 2016, the engine was examined and started. During the test run, fuel delivery to the engine was restricted and the engine only produced about 50 percent power. When external fuel was fed to the engine, it ran normally. In June 2016, the wing was removed and the fuel tanks were examined. The right fuel tank and sump contained residue consistent with grass. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98ES](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98ES-2019-01-02), registration cancelled 2019-01-02, S/N 12111027, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EDWARD M VAN MORLAN RANS S-12 - Registry model: [Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/edward-m-van-morlan-rans-s-12) (registry code 05632AR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 670](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-670) (registry code 55598, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 12111027 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Rotax 670 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: K34, Gardner, KS - Destination: K34, Gardner, KS - Airport: K34, Gardner Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 72 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KIXD, 3 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 20150928023189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150928023189A), Sep 28, 2015: Edward M Van Morlan RANS S-12, Gardner, KS, Substantial damage. Shortly after takeoff from rwy 08, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to glide back to the airport and land on rwy 17. Before reaching the runway, the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92076. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444195&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.