Rans S6 N661PF

Summary

On 26 June 2019 at about 14:30 local time, a Rans S6 registered N661PF, operated by PF Flyers Inc., was involved in an accident near Fletcher, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 2019 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fletcher, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Six Oaks (NC67)

Coordinates

35.4753, -82.4358

Aircraft

Rans S6

Registration

N661PF

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

PF Flyers Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fletcher → Fletcher

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19FA200

2 people died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and flight instructor were conducting a flight review. The flight departed from a private grass field airport and maneuvered in the local area for about 20 minutes and then returned to the airport. They then departed again, and shortly after takeoff the airplane's climb rate rapidly increased, airspeed rapidly deteriorated, which was subsequently followed by a descent into terrain. Multiple witnesses described the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent fully developed spin, where the airplane impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. Examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and damage signatures and a witness account indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident. Fuel observed in the carburetor bowls indicated that the engine was receiving fuel normally at the time of impact. The investigation could not determine why airplane control was lost or who was the pilot flying during the flight's final takeoff and climb. Both pilots were certificated flight instructors, and each had logged several thousands of hours of flight time, however, the flight instructor had never flown the accident airplane, and the commercial pilot had logged under 5 hours of flight time in the accident airplane. It is likely that both pilot's inexperience in the accident airplane contributed to the loss of control at low altitude. Although both pilots were at increased risk for a sudden cardiac event, there was no evidence on autopsy of such an event, therefore, it is unlikely either pilot’s cardiovascular disease was a factor in the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.