- Date
- October 29, 2005, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- Flushing, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N62078Colson/Goodbread Rans S-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Detroit, MI, FSDO
- FAA report
- 20051029032309A
- Case key
- 62789
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 loss of engine power on initial climb for undetermined reasons. A factor was the tree the airplane impacted during the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The experimental amateur-built airplane, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power during initial climbout for a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot's accident report stated, "Engine failed in climb out within 1/8 mile of end of runway, over trees and housing. ... Larger tree sheered off left wing at leading edge. [Airplane] fell into middle of trees and came to stop on trees and bushes outside airport perimeter." Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies.
Factual narrative
This report is based on information received by the NTSB. Additional details may be found in the NTSB's public docket for this case. For further information, please contact the NTSB Office of Public Inquiries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N62078
- Reported as
- Colson/Goodbread Rans S-12
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0293374
- Airframe hours
- 321
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stephen E. Spence
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · October 1, 2005 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- 3DA · Flushing, MI
- Airport
- 3DA · Dalton, runway 18
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
- 50
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 136 total · 34 in this make and model · 82 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.40 inHg
- Observed at
- FNT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.