# NTSB ERA22LA394: Sutphin John E Rans S-12, N8028W, Hilliard, FL, August 31, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 31, 2022, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place: Hilliard, FL
- Coordinates: 30.685967, -81.906343 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6860&lon=-81.9063&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA394
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105839/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105839
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA394

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sutphin John E RANS S-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05626VP), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Sutphin John E RANS S-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05626VP), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Sutphin John E RANS S-12, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05626VP), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot stated that he was practicing touch-and-go landings in the accident airplane. While approaching the runway at an altitude of about 400 feet, and while in the turn from the base to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot described that he allowed the airspeed to get too slow and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8028W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8028W-2023-09-23), registration cancelled 2023-09-23, S/N 0894513, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUTPHIN JOHN E RANS S-12
- Registry model: [Sutphin John E RANS S-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/sutphin-john-e-rans-s-12) (registry code 05626VP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0894513
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 120
- Engines: Rotax 582 65 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2021, 45 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 01J, Hilliard Airpark, runway 18, 3,600 × 125 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; student; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18 total, 14 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KJAX, 16 nm away
- METAR: KJAX 311456Z 26003KT 10SM SCT021 BKN250 31/26 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP154 T03060256 53006

## 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 20220831015639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220831015639A), Aug 31, 2022: Sutphin John E RANS S-12, Hillard, FL, Destroyed. On August 31, 2022, the pilot of [privacy data omitted], a rans S-12, was performing solo touch and go's at Hillard Airpark (01J). At around 1045 local time,…

## Other investigations on N8028W (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN14LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA045), Oct 11, 2013: Sutphin Rans S-12 (N8028W), French Lick, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in a steep turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/mush at a low altitude.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105839. 2.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14977131&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Evans-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14977329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14976418&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20Array-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.