Rans COYOTE II S6 N1901C

Summary

On 15 June 2010 at about 03:18 local time, a Rans COYOTE II S6 registered N1901C, operated by Michael S. Gorden, was involved in an accident near Lincoln, California, 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

15 June 2010 at 03:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Lincoln, California, United States

Nearest airport

Lincoln Regional Airport (KLHM)

Coordinates

38.9031, -121.3389

Aircraft

Rans COYOTE II S6

Registration

N1901C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michael S. Gorden

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln → Lincoln

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR10LA293

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the increased drag on the airplane with the doors removed.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot removed the doors of his two-seat, 65-horsepower airplane the day before the accident and flew it successfully. The aircraft documentation noted that with the doors removed the airplane’s climb and cruise performance would be reduced. On the day of the accident, the pilot had a passenger with him and the doors of the airplane were still off. A witness reported that the airplane was returning to the airport at 500 feet and made a downwind entry for the runway. There was one airplane in the traffic pattern ahead of the accident airplane. The accident airplane then entered a 35- to 40-degree angle-of-bank left-hand turn, presumably to increase the spacing between aircraft. After the airplane had completed about 180 degrees of turn, it appeared to be traveling slower than normal; the left wing dipped and the airplane entered a descending spiral. The airplane rotated 360 degrees while descending vertically and impacted terrain. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, flight control continuity was confirmed and no preimpact mechanical anomalies were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.