Rans S-12 N3266R

Summary

On 9 July 2011 at about 16:21 local time, a Rans S-12 registered N3266R, operated by East Lindsey R, was involved in an accident near Scott, Arkansas, 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

9 July 2011 at 16:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Scott, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.7436, -92.0239

Aircraft

Rans S-12

Registration

N3266R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

East Lindsey R

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

N Little Rock → N Little Rock

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA467

1 person died.

The pilot’s loss of airplane control, likely due to a cardiac event.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to data from a GPS receiver on board the airplane, the airplane made several turns just before it descended and impacted terrain. Examination of the wreckage and an engine run found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane’s ballistic recovery system was found deployed; however, damage and deployment signatures were consistent with activation due to ground impact. An autopsy conducted on the pilot found a complete obstruction of the left main coronary artery. While it was not possible to determine if the pilot was experiencing a heart attack in flight, it is possible that the pilot experienced acute arrhythmia or acute myocardial ischemia (decrease in blood flow), which would have led to the pilot’s loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.