Rans S12XL accident near Port Isabel, TX
On December 16, 2020, a Rans S12XL (airplane) was involved in an accident near Port Isabel, TX. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 16, 2020
- Place
- Port Isabel, TX
- Aircraft
- Rans S12XL · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 26.159°N, 97.350°W
- NTSB ID
- 20201216102420
Official records · CEN21LA088
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 15, 2020, about 2300 central standard time, a Rans S-12XL, N449JP, was involved in an accident near Port Isabel, Texas. The noncertificated pilot, who was the airplane owner, and a flight instructor were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. A student pilot who had flown with the flight instructor in another airplane prior to the accident flight stated that he and the instructor landed at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport (PIL), Port Isabel, Texas. They then taxied to a hangar on the east side of the fixed base operator at PIL. The student pilot dropped the flight instructor off, and the flight instructor walked over to the hangar and met two men, one of whom was the accident noncertificated pilot. The student pilot said he saw them move the accident airplane out of the hangar. The student pilot last saw the flight instructor about 1540. An alert notice was issued due to the airplane being overdue. The airplane was located about ½ mile south runway 35 at PIL. There were no witnesses that reported seeing the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe flight instructor’s only logbook entry for flight in the accident airplane was dated December 9, 2020, for a flight that was 1.0 hour in duration. The last flight in the logbook was dated December 14, 2020, for a flight in a Cessna 172. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe amount of fuel in the airplane at takeoff is unknown. On December 15, 2009, the Operating Limitations for Light Sport Aircraft for the airplane were issued by the Federal Avi
Probable cause
An exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and aerodynamic stall following a loss of engine power during an unknown phase of flight, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
