Leach Michael RANS S7S N828S

Summary

On 16 January 2022 at about 15:15 local time, a Leach Michael RANS S7S registered N828S was involved in an accident near Winnemucca, Nevada, United States. One person was 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

16 January 2022 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Winnemucca, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Winnemucca Municipal Airport (WMC)

Coordinates

40.9100, -117.7942

Aircraft

Leach Michael RANS S7S

Registration

N828S

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winnemucca → Blackfoot

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ANC22LA013

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to ensure the airplane’s wings were free of contaminates before departure.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before takeoff he noticed a visible layer of frost covering the airplane’s wings. He removed the frost with a towel and proceeded with the engine warm up and preflight checks which lasted about 20 minutes. During the initial climb, the airplane felt “mushy” and failed to gain altitude. The pilot elected to conduct an off-airport landing to a brush covered field. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that the frost must have reformed before takeoff and that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.