Fagan RANS S-6S N949S

Summary

On 10 December 2006 at about 20:24 local time, a Fagan RANS S-6S registered N949S was involved in an accident near Taylorsville, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 December 2006 at 20:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Taylorsville, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.9306, -81.1950

Aircraft

Fagan RANS S-6S

Registration

N949S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Taylorsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL07LA025

2 people died.

The pilots failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled decent, collision with the ground, and a post crash fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness stated the pilot wanted to show him how quiet the airplane was and asked another friend to go on the flight while the witness observed the airplane from the ground. The airplane departed from runway 27 and made a left turn towards the south and disappeared from view. A short time later the airplane was heard approaching the airport. The airplane was observed flying from south to north and crossed the airport at midfield at about 700 feet. The airplane made another left turn, entered the traffic pattern, and made a low pass down runway 09 at about 100 feet above the ground. The airplane was observed to start a slow and steady climb described as "not a quick climb" over the trees at the departure end of the runway. The airplane made a "sharp left turn" the nose of the airplane was observed to pitch down about 45 degrees followed by an increase in engine power. The airplane disappeared from view below the tree line followed by an impact sound. Examination of the airframe revealed the right wing was accelerated forward and the left wing was attached to the airframe and fire damaged. Both flaps were extended between 25 to 30-degrees. Review of RANS S6S performance data sheet revealed the airplane will stall at 36 MPH with flaps extended. Examination of the airframe, engine assembly, and flight controls revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.