# NTSB NYC00LA019: Parsons Rans S-12, N70197, Gainesville, VA, October 26, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 26, 1999, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, VA
- Coordinates: 38.789962, -77.610626 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7900&lon=-77.6106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47745
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47745/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA019

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was too slow and the airplane stalled during a right turn.  He was unable to recover before the airplane impacted trees.  The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On October 26, 1999, about 1600 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Rans S-12, N70197, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Gainesville, Virginia.  The certificated private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Whitman Strip Airport, Manassas, Virginia.  The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot said "...I made a right turn to the west.  I was too slow and the right wing stalled.  The aircraft spun, I corrected for the spin and tried to pull up, but it was to late and I went into the trees at about a 30-degree angle...."

The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane.

The pilot reported 377 hours of total flight experience, of which, 324 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N70197](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70197-2005-04-29), registration cancelled 2005-04-29, S/N 089227 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Parsons RANS S-12
- Registry model: [Parsons Lester Leon III RANS S-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/parsons-lester-leon-iii-rans-s-12) (registry code 05623DM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 089227
- Airframe hours: 325
- Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lester L. Parsons
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 1999, 1 hours before
- Departed: 0V5, MANASSAS, VA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 377 total, 324 in this make and model, 324 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HEF, 5 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 19991026047009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991026047009A), Oct 26, 1999: Amtr RANSS12, Gainesville, VA, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot stated he was too slow and the airplane stalled during a right turn. He was unable to recover before the airplane impacted trees. The pilot did…

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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