Rans S-9 N5301A

Summary

On 1 August 1992 at about 19:00 local time, a Rans S-9 registered N5301A, operated by Dwain R. Chatterton, was involved in an accident near Mason, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 August 1992 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Mason, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Rans S-9

Registration

N5301A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dwain R. Chatterton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI92DEC02

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S OVER-CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE HE WAS FLYING, AND THE FACT THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED PERFORMING A LOW PASS TO THE RUNWAY. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LOW PASS, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN. AS THE AIRPLANE GAINED ALTITUDE IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 300 TO 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, PERFORMING A HALF TURN SPIN BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRFRAME OR POWER PLANT. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE ROTATED OPPOSITE THE NORMAL U.S. CERTIFIED AIRPLANE ENGINES. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS REVEALED THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE. AN EYE WITNESS STATED HE HAD SPOKEN WITH THE PILOT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND ADVISED HIM TO OBTAIN SOME DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE FLYING THE AIRPLANE SOLO; OR AT LEAST DO SOME TOUCH AND GO'S BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE IN THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED HE HAD NO TIME LOGGED IN THE MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.