Rans RANS S-6ES N131PR

Summary

On 22 June 2008 at about 15:32 local time, a Rans RANS S-6ES registered N131PR was involved in an accident near Lajas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 June 2008 at 15:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Lajas, United States

Coordinates

18.0681, -67.0825

Aircraft

Rans RANS S-6ES

Registration

N131PR

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lajas → Lajas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA225

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-certificated pilot/owner and his passenger were returning to a private farm from a local flight. The pilot performed a "low speed, low altitude pass" over several witnesses gathered at the farm. When the airplane was about 1 mile from the road where the pilot intended to land, the airplane entered a steep left turn, and then stalled and spun to the ground from an altitude of approximately 200 feet. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any mechanical deficiencies. The airplane was at least 72 pounds over the 1,100 pound maximum gross weight at the time of the accident. Additionally, the pilot had substantial risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (marked obesity and evidence of poorly controlled high blood pressure), had recently taken a prescription sleep aid, and was taking a prescription weight loss product. Given these factors, the pilot's decision making may have been impaired by fatigue, or by the effects of the medications. However, the investigation was unable to verify whether the pilot was impaired during the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.