# NTSB ERA14CA062: Anderson Andreas Rans S-6S, N581TC, Traveler's Rest, SC, December 3, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 3, 2013, 18:09 local (23:09 UTC) - Place: Traveler's Rest, SC - Coordinates: 35.165554, -82.43972 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1656&lon=-82.4397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88509 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88509/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88509 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into deteriorating weather, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent inability to maintain clearance with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: fog](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055/cases.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035055/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401) (defining event); cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05625NI), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed the Nashville, Tennessee area earlier in the day and was en route to his destination of Greenville, South Carolina at 9500 feet above mean sea level (msl). He stated that he checked the automated surface observing systems weather report and that the clouds in the Morristown, Tennessee area were reported to be at 7,000 feet above ground level. He added that he knew that he would be able to clear the mountains just below the recorded ceiling height when needed. The pilot was operating under the provisions of day visual flight rules (VFR) on top of the broken/overcast cloud layer prior to beginning the descent through the clouds. During the descent, the pilot stated that the ceiling appeared lower than reported and he elected to climb back up to VFR on top. During this process, the pilot became disoriented, hit a tree, and impacted the side of a mountain. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The recorded ceiling and visibility at Greenville Downtown Airport, Greenville, South Carolina, about 10 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident site was an overcast ceiling at 800 feet msl and the visibility was 9 statute miles. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he departed the Nashville, Tennessee area earlier in the day and was en route to his destination of Greenville, South Carolina at 9500 feet above mean sea level (msl). He stated that he checked the automated surface observing systems weather report and that the clouds in the Morristown, Tennessee area were reported to be at 7,000 feet above ground level. He added that he knew that he would be able to clear the mountains just below the recorded ceiling height when needed. The pilot was operating under the provisions of day visual flight rules (VFR) on top of the broken/overcast cloud layer prior to beginning the descent through the clouds. During the descent, the pilot stated that the ceiling appeared lower than reported and he elected to climb back up to VFR on top. During this process, the pilot became disoriented, hit a tree, and impacted the side of a mountain. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The recorded ceiling and visibility at Greenville Downtown Airport, Greenville, South Carolina, about 10 nautical miles to the southeast of the accident site was an overcast ceiling at 800 feet msl and the visibility was 9 statute miles. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N581TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N581TC-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 09071827 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ANDERSON ANDREAS RANS S-6S (SUPERSIX) - Registry model: [Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-andreas-rans-s-6s) (registry code 05625NI) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 09071827 - Airframe hours: 840 - Engines: Rotax 912 S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 2013, 84 hours before - Departed: JWN, Nashville, TN - Destination: GMU, Greenville, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 745 total, 712 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: GMU, 19 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 20131203023529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131203023529A), Dec 3, 2013: Anderson Andreas RANS S-6S, Travelers Rest, SC, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was on a VFR flight from john c tune airport (jwn) near nashville, TN to greenville downtown airport (gmu) greenville, SC. He was flying… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 17, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88509. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement from the FAA.(2 Embedded Photos) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20from%20the%20FAA.(2%20Embedded%20Photos)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records. (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records.-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane at rest. (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20at%20rest.%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.