Rans S12 N536RH

Summary

On 1 February 2019 at about 20:55 local time, a Rans S12 registered N536RH was involved in an accident near Socorro, New Mexico, 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

1 February 2019 at 20:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Socorro, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Socorro Muni (ONM)

Coordinates

34.0244, -106.8983

Aircraft

Rans S12

Registration

N536RH

Category

Airplane

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Socorro → Socorro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19LA078

1 person died.

A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on his third flight in the recently purchased experimental, amateur-built airplane and remained in the vicinity of the airport, where he completed several turn maneuvers. The airplane impacted a transient parking area at the airport and came to rest in an adjacent parking lot with substantial damage. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot had previously communicated with the manufacturer about stability issues with the airplane. The manufacturer stated that the airplane required a total weight of 260 lbs in the seats to fly properly, and that the stability issues may be related to a lack of ballast. Two bags of ballast weight were found with the main wreckage and in the forward cabin area; however, the total weight of the ballast could not be determined due to loss of weight from damaged bags. Due to the loss of material from the ballast bags and the unknown amount of fuel onboard, the airplane’s weight and balance and center of gravity position at the time of the accident could not be determined. The nearest weather reporting station recorded wind from the south at 12 knots gusting to 20 knots. Although gusty wind conditions may have been present, the reason for the pilot’s loss of control of the airplane could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.