Rans S-12 AIRAILE UNREG

Summary

On 4 April 2020 at about 16:44 local time, a Rans S-12 AIRAILE registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Hillrose, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 April 2020 at 16:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillrose, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.3206, -103.5239

Aircraft

Rans S-12 AIRAILE

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Year built

1990

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hillrose → Hillrose

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA139

2 people were seriously injured.

The noncertificated pilot's diverted attention while looking at a fire during low-altitude flying, which resulted in a collision with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot reported that, during a local flight, he noticed an area of smoke and fire near his property. The pilot descended the airplane to about 20 ft above ground level to see what was burning, which diverted his attention from flying. The pilot "immediately" pulled up to avoid power lines, but the airplane struck the lines. The airplane then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.