# NTSB ERA13CA250: Thomas David W Rans S-12 XL, N81788, Cleveland, GA, May 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 18, 2013, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, GA - Coordinates: 34.561668, -83.713607 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5617&lon=-83.7136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA\FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86963 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA250 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86963/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86963 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA250 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of overall recent flight experience and lack of experience in make and model. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05606MG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05606MG), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=05606MG), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/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: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05606MG), [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. - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05606MG), [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: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05606MG), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting his first flight in the two-seat experimental amateur-built airplane, with the non-certificated pilot/owner seated in the right seat. The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated and departed from the turf runway without incident; however, as it climbed to an altitude about 300 feet above the ground, he entered a left 180-degree turn. During the turn, the airplane inadvertently stalled, and descended into a pond, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Both occupants were able to exit the airplane and stated that they did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported about 1,600 hours of total flight experience with no previous flight hours in make and model. In addition, he had not flown at all during the previous 7 months. The owner had accumulated about 30 hours in the accident airplane. He stated that he had seen the pilot flying other airplanes in the past and assumed he was capable of the flying the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot was conducting his first flight in the two-seat experimental amateur-built airplane, with the non-certificated pilot/owner seated in the right seat. The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated and departed from the turf runway without incident; however, as it climbed to an altitude about 300 feet above the ground, he entered a left 180-degree turn. During the turn, the airplane inadvertently stalled, and descended into a pond, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Both occupants were able to exit the airplane and stated that they did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported about 1,600 hours of total flight experience with no previous flight hours in make and model. In addition, he had not flown at all during the previous 7 months. The owner had accumulated about 30 hours in the accident airplane. He stated that he had seen the pilot flying other airplanes in the past and assumed he was capable of the flying the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N81788](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81788-2014-03-10), registration cancelled 2014-03-10, S/N 10950663-0197, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMAS DAVID W RANS S-12 XL - Registry model: [Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-david-w-rans-s-12-xl) (registry code 05606MG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 10950663-0197 - Airframe hours: 1442 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Keri Jean Marazan - Registered owner: Keri Jean Marazan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA - Destination: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA - Airport: 0GE5, Mountain Airpark, runway 35, 2,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review October 20, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 1,580 total, 0 in this make and model, 1,570 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 35; injuries: minor; seat: right; flight hours: 300 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: GVL, 18 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 20130518007409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130518007409A), May 18, 2013: Thomas David W RANS S-12 XL, Cleveland, GA, Substantial damage. Pilot in command, being unfamiliar with this model aircraft and having zero time in model, failed to maintain adequate airspeed after take off when… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86963. 11.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements and Police Report Excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 615 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20and%20Police%20Report%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Special Airworthiness Certificate (item 4, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Special%20Airworthiness%20Certificate-Redacted.PDF - Local Weather Observations (KGVL) (item 5, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Local%20Weather%20Observations%20(KGVL)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 – View of the airplane prior to the accident (Provided by FAA). (item 6, .PDF, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395663&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20the%20airplane%20prior%20to%20the%20accident%20(Provided%20by%20FAA).-Master.PDF - Photograph # 2 – View of the airplane at the accident site prior to recovery (Provided by FAA). (item 7, .PDF, 9.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20the%20airplane%20at%20the%20accident%20site%20prior%20to%20recovery%20(Provided%20by%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.