# NTSB CEN23LA411: Rans S6, N853HT, LIberty, MO, September 15, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 14, 2023, 19:29 local (Sep 15, 2023, 00:29 UTC) - Place: LIberty, MO - Coordinates: 39.215762, -94.331614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2158&lon=-94.3316&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193081 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193081/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193081 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA411 ## Probable cause The inflight fire and impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive fire damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Meek Terry L RANS S6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=05902FI), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Meek Terry L RANS S6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05902FI), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150) (defining event); cases with it: [Meek Terry L RANS S6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05902FI), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Meek Terry L RANS S6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902FI), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Meek Terry L RANS S6ES, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902FI), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was observed to be on fire before crashing short of an airpark. The fire continued postimpact and consumed the entire airplane. The non-certificated pilot suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized. The pilot’s family was not able to provide aircraft or pilot records and the pilot’s flight experience could not be substantiated. The FAA reported that the extensive fire damage precluded a thorough examination of the airplane and engine. The reason for the inflight fire and subsequent impact with terrain could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N853HT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N853HT), registered now, S/N 1190148, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RANS S6 (ES) - Registry model: [Meek Terry L RANS S6ES](https://openairdocs.org/model/meek-terry-l-rans-s6es) (registry code 05902FI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1190148 - Year built: 1990 - Engines: Subaru EA81 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Both - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Meek Terry L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Airport: 4MO4 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KGPH, 7 nm away - METAR: KGPH 150035Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/09 A3007 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230914015999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230914015999A), Sep 14, 2023: Meek Terry L RANS S6ES, Liberty, MO, Destroyed. According to witness reports, during unknown phase of flight, while at approximately 800 feet AGL, an inflight fire, of unknown origin, occurred with a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193081. 747 KB in all. - Record of conversation NTSB duty officer (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16750729&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20NTSB-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16751483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 619 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16761829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.