Rans S-12 accident near Delta, CO
On May 3, 2020, a Rans S-12 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Delta, CO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 3, 2020
- Place
- Delta, CO
- Aircraft
- Rans S-12 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.786°N, 108.062°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200503X45457
Official records · CEN20LA169
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 3, 2020, at 1110 mountain daylight time, a Rans S-12 airplane, N427LB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Delta, Colorado. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 test flight. A witness stated that he talked to the pilot about the airplane’s stability issues, and the pilot told him that he performed some high-speed taxi tests and was trying to adjust to correct the issues. The witness did not think the pilot was going to fly [on the day of the accident] and was only going to perform another set of high-speed taxi tests. The witness believed the pilot was caught off guard and the airplane became airborne. A witness at Blake Field Airport (AJZ), Delta, Colorado, stated that he saw the airplane takeoff from runway 14, and it appeared to be under control. The airplane flew along the left downwind leg for runway 21 about 300-400 ft above ground level, in straight, level, and stable flight. After the airplane passed the approach end of runway 32, it pitched down, banked sharply right, and the engine throttled back. The witness said it was hard to tell if the engine was throttled back before the sudden change in pitch or in its response to the change in pitch; a loss of control/stall occurred. Another witness at AJZ stated that he heard an engine repetitively going from full engine power, then back off, and then return to full engine power. He said that when he saw the airplane, he thought the wings were rocking. The airplane banked to the right, was very low, and pi
Probable cause
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a test flight which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
More accidents in CO
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-14, Nov 15, 1987
- Grumman Gulfstream III, Mar 30, 2001
- Beech 1900, Jan 28, 2026
- Douglas DC3, Mar 9, 2019
- Piper PA-31-350, Dec 3, 2014
Browse: Colorado · 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.
