Shaw Douglas Wayne RANS S 7 N347DS

Summary

On 11 December 2011 at about 19:30 local time, a Shaw Douglas Wayne RANS S 7 registered N347DS, operated by Miller IRA L, was involved in an accident near Somerville, Tennessee, 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

11 December 2011 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Somerville, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.3733, -89.3478

Aircraft

Shaw Douglas Wayne RANS S 7

Registration

N347DS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Miller IRA L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Somerville → Somerville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12FA107

1 person died.

The pilot's incapacitation due to a ruptured berry aneurysm during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A witness reported that, during takeoff, the airplane became airborne about 300 feet down the turf runway. It then drifted right towards the trees, abruptly banked left, and oscillated about its roll axis. The airplane subsequently pitched up sharply to an angle of 45 degrees or more, followed by a stall and nose-down descent into the runway. According to the witness, the engine ran continuously during the impact sequence. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The sport pilot's autopsy report noted an acute rupture of a berry aneurysm, which most likely incapacitated him during the takeoff. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued more than 4 years before the accident; however, as a sport pilot, he was not required to hold a current medical certificate, and, additionally, a more recent similar medical examination would likely not have detected the aneurysm.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.