Rans S-10 SAKOTA N821DR

Summary

On 21 November 1992 at about 22:10 local time, a Rans S-10 SAKOTA registered N821DR, operated by Charles R. Goetowski, was involved in an accident near San Jose, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 November 1992 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

San Jose, California, United States

Nearest airport

Reid-Hillview (RHV)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Rans S-10 SAKOTA

Registration

N821DR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Charles R. Goetowski

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Hollister

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA048

1 person died.

1) THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASON(S), AND, 2) THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING AIRSPEED ABOVE THE POWER OFF STALL SPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL/SPIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE CONTROL TOWER LOCAL CONTROLLER TO REPORT HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNING TO LAND. THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PILOT TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT ENTERED A 'TIGHT' RIGHT TURN AND THEN ENTERED A STALL/SPIN. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXPLODED. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, DETERMINED ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE INTACT, OPERABLE, AND WORKING CORRECTLY. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.