Rans S6 accident near Fletcher, NC
On June 26, 2019, a Rans S6 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fletcher, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 26, 2019
- Place
- Fletcher, NC
- Aircraft
- Rans S6 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.475°N, 82.436°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190626X22553
Official records · ERA19FA200
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTHISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 26, 2019, about 1030 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Rans S-6S airplane, N661PF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Six Oaks Airport (NC67), Fletcher, North Carolina. The commercial pilot and the flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the accident airplane’s owner, the commercial pilot had asked to use the airplane for a flight review. The owner reported that the commercial pilot had flown the airplane the day before the accident and did not report any issues with the airplane. The owner also reported that the airplane was topped off with nonethanol automobile gas the day before the accident. A Garmin 496 GPS device was found at the accident site. Data from the accident flight containing flight track, GPS altitude, time, heading, and ground speed were extracted from the unit. The recorded data began at 0955:25. About 1004, ground speed and GPS altitude data consistent with a takeoff from runway 6 at NC67 were recorded. The flight track then showed the airplane flying about 7 miles northeast of NC67, performing maneuvers, and navigating back to NC67. The flight track showed the airplane completing a series of spiral descending turns, entering the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and landing on runway 24 about 1025. At 1026:08, data consistent with another takeoff on runway 6 were recorded. The data revealed that the airplane gained about 500 ft in altitude, climbing northea
Probable cause
The exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin at low altitude. Contributing was the lack of experience both pilots possessed in the accident airplane.
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Browse: North Carolina · Rans aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
