# NTSB MIA94LA213: Rans S-12 Airaile, N4123N, Clearwater, FL, September 18, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 18, 1994, 15:13 local (19:13 UTC)
- Place: Clearwater, FL
- Coordinates: 28.659458, -82.11061 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6595&lon=-82.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37604/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA213

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- Fire, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED HIS SECOND FLIGHT OF THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. AFTER TAKEOFF WITNESSES STATED THEY HEARD THE ENGINE FAIL. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND CRASHED AND CAME TO REST IN A TREE. A FIRE ERUPTED AND CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AFTER RECOVERY WAS CONDUCTED AND NO CAUSE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE ALMOST TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Factual narrative

On September 18, 1994, about 1513 eastern daylight time, N4123N, a Rans S-12 Airaile, experimental, homebuilt airplane, crashed in Clearwater, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 local, personal flight. The airplane was registered to the pilot, Mr. Robert Harding. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot received fatal injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

Witnesses stated they observed the airplane take off, turn crosswind, slow down and enter a spin. The witnesses reported that they thought the engine quit. The airplane came to rest in a tree, and a fire erupted in the tree almost immediately. The pilot fell from the tree on fire, and residents of the area rushed to him and extinguished the fire on him. The fire department arrived and put out the tree fire. The pilot was evacuated to a local hospital and expired 6 days later.

FAA inspectors attempted to examine the airplane and engine after it was removed from the tree, but were not able to determine if there was any preexisting failures of the engine or airframe due to almost total destruction of both.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4123N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4123N-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 0992290, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RANS S-12 AIRAILE (S-12 AIRAI)
- Registry model: [Rans S-12 AIRAILE](https://openairdocs.org/model/rans-s-12-airaile) (registry code 05626AS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0992290
- Engines: ROTAX RT-24 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Harding, Robert
- Departed: CLW, LARGO, FL
- Destination: CLW

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 61 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 1 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 19940918028119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940918028119A), Sep 18, 1994: Amtr RANSS12, Clearwater, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed slow on climb. Engine missing stall spin into a tree and burn. Total destruction. Pilot died 6 days later.

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.

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