# NTSB WPR18TA238: Rans S14, N140JL, Brownsville, OR, August 20, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: August 20, 2018, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Brownsville, OR - Coordinates: 44.357776, -122.917778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3578&lon=-122.9178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98142 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR18TA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98142/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98142 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR18TA238 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, 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: [Loomis John C RANS S-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902I6), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Loomis John C RANS S-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=05902I6), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/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: [Loomis John C RANS S-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05902I6), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Loomis John C RANS S-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05902I6), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Loomis John C RANS S-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902I6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot was circling about 600 ft above ground level and taking photographs of a concert venue. He stated that he slowed the airplane to about 60 mph before entering a steep left turn. During the turn, the airplane stalled and subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2018, about 1640 Pacific daylight time, a Rans S14 airplane, N140JL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Brownsville, Oregon. The sport pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated he had planned to overfly and photograph the location of a recent concert venue. As he arrived over the venue, he descended to about 600 ft above ground level (agl) and decelerated to about 60 miles per hour (mph) before entering a steep left turn. During the turn, he felt the airplane stall, and he attempted to recover as the airplane impacted the ground and struck a fence. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N140JL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N140JL), registered now, S/N 0392019, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rans S14 - Registry model: [Loomis John C RANS S-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/loomis-john-c-rans-s-14) (registry code 05902I6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0392019 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 627.9 - Engines: Rotax 503 52 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 26, 2018, 626 hours before - Departed: Harrisburg, OR - Destination: Harrisburg, OR - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 410 total, 384.3 in this make and model, 410 as pilot in command, 4.5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KEUG, 19 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 20180820011879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180820011879A), Aug 20, 2018: Loomis John C RANS S-14, Brownsville, OR, Substantial damage. On April 04, 2019, [privacy data omitted] piloted aircraft N7622M, 1959 Cessna 175, sn: 55922, from augusta, ga (kdnl) in route to boone, NC. Approximately 15… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98142. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7263637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20John%20Loomas_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12335704&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 970 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=7264224&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR18TA238-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.