Rans S12 N43377

Summary

On 4 August 2009 at about 14:00 local time, a Rans S12 registered N43377, operated by Howard Austin, was involved in an accident near Quitman, Georgia, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 2009 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Quitman, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Quitman Brooks County (4J5)

Coordinates

30.8050, -83.5867

Aircraft

Rans S12

Registration

N43377

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Howard Austin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Quitman → Quitman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA442

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance on final approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was making an approach to landing in day visual meteorological conditions. On the final leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot descended too low and impacted trees prior to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any preexisting malfunctions or mechanical anomalies. The nearest weather reporting facility, located approximately 16 nautical miles east of the accident location, reported calm winds, 10 statute miles visibility, and few clouds at 1,100 feet at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.