Haas RANS S-6 N116LP

Summary

On 20 July 1992 at about 21:45 local time, a Haas RANS S-6 registered N116LP, operated by William H. Haas, was involved in an accident near Nokesville, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 1992 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Nokesville, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Haas RANS S-6

Registration

N116LP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

William H. Haas

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO92LA106

Nobody was injured.

IMPROPER PLANNING OR DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS AFTER INADVERTENTLY BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE WERE RELATED FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER CONSTRUCTION OF A HOME BUILT RANS S 6 WAS COMPLETED, THE PILOT (OWNER, BUILDER) ELECTED TO PRACTICE TAXIING AROUND THE 1300 FT GRASS STRIP. AFTER A SERIES OF TAXI TESTS, IN WHICH THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND WAS LANDED, HE ALLOWED HIS WIFE ABOARD, INTENDING ONLY TO TAXI THE PLANE. ACCORDING TO HIM, AS HE BECAME MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE AIRPLANE, HE INCREASED THE TAXI SPEED TO ABOUT 40 MPH, AND THE AIRPLANE INADVERTENTLY LIFTED OFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSTRIP TO STOP, SO HE ELECTED TO REMAIN AIRBORNE, CIRCLE THE FIELD, AND LAND. HE CLEARED TREES AT THE END OF THE STRIP AND TURNED CROSSWIND AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL. HE INDICATED HE TURNED DOWNWIND AT 70 MPH. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. THE PILOT NOTICED POWERLINES AHEAD AND PULLED UP WHILE USING FULL FLAPS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE HIT A TREE AT AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 40 MPH AND CRASHED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, BUT SAID THERE WAS TURBULENCE. THE CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ABOUT 2500 FT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.