Rans S-12 UNREG

Summary

On 19 April 2003 at about 23:30 local time, a Rans S-12 registered UNREG was involved in an accident near West Point, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 April 2003 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

West Point, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.2402, -87.3298

Aircraft

Rans S-12

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Point → West Point

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

ATL03LA080

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance which resulted in the inflight collision with a utility line. A factor was utility lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, the pilot was departing to the north under some high voltage power lines which ran northeast to southwest about 50 feet above the ground. After takeoff both wings on airplane had folded upward. The airplane turned northwest and executed a 180-degree turn. As the airplane approached the strip heading southeasterly, it began to bank to the left to align with the strip's southerly heading. As it banked the left wing contacted the wires and the airplane collided with the ground inverted at about a 45-degree nose down attitude. The airplane was found 100 feet from the point of wire contact, on the northeast side of the departure end of the airstrip. Examination of the unregistered airplane revealed crush damage to the cockpit area, and the left wing was separated about 18 inches outboard of the wing tip.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.