# NTSB GAA16CA335: Rans Employee Flying Club Rans S 6S, N95669, Richwood, OH, June 26, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 26, 2016, 09:26 local (13:26 UTC) - Place: Richwood, OH - Coordinates: 40.465831, -83.285003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4658&lon=-83.2850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93472 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93472/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93472 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA335 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the critical angle of attack during an initial climb of an aborted landing, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing at a private grass airstrip, he touched down long to avoid water on the runway. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a thermal and became airborne again for about 100 feet. Subsequently, the pilot realized he could not stop within the distance remaining so he aborted the landing. During the initial climb of the aborted landing, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing at a private grass airstrip, he touched down long to avoid water on the runway. The pilot further reported that during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a thermal and became airborne again for about 100 feet. Subsequently, the pilot realized he could not stop within the distance remaining so he aborted the landing. During the initial climb of the aborted landing, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N95669 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: RANS EMPLOYEE FLYING CLUB RANS S 6S (SUPERSIX) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 08071825 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 186.2 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2016, 4 hours before - Departed: O74, MOUNT VICTORY, OH - Destination: Richwood, OH - Airport: runway 09, 1,600 × 85 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 3, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 674 total, 508 in this make and model, 604 as pilot in command, 3.7 in the last 90 days, 1.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KDLZ, 14 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 20160626005859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160626005859A), Jun 26, 2016: Rans Employee Flying Club RANS S-6S, Richwood, OH, Substantial damage. Light sport aircraft Rans S-6S N95669 [privacy data omitted] approached his private grass runway for landing to the east. Pilot reports wind at crosswind from… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93472. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 973 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photograph (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442472&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photograph%20(Courtesy%20of%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.