- Date
- November 13, 1995, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place
- Plant City, FL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGRans S-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 37945
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
failure of the non-certificated pilot (unqualified person) to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The non-rated pilot and a passenger in an unregistered airplane crashed during takeoff. Witnesses heard the engine running until impact. The airplane was found where it had impacted in a nose down attitude. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
On November 13, 1995, about 1355 eastern standard time, an unregistered Rans S-12, crashed on takeoff from Plant City Airport, Plant City, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The noncertificated pilot and one passenger received fatal injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The airplane departed to the west and one witness stated he heard the engine running normally until impact. Examination of the wreckage was conducted by an FAA inspector who stated that no preimpact failures were noted. No airplane or engine logbooks were located.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Rans S-12
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0291061
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 46 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Paul A. Theriault
- Departed
- PCM
- Airport
- PCM · Plant City, runway 27, 3,348 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Seat
- Front
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 34 nm away