Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Taylorsville, North Carolina 28681
Sunday, December 10, 2006 15:24 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness stated the pilot wanted to show him how quiet the airplane was and asked another friend to go on the flight while the witness observed the airplane from the ground. The airplane departed from runway 27 and made a left turn towards the south and disappeared from view. A short time later the airplane was heard approaching the airport. The airplane was observed flying from south to north and crossed the airport at midfield at about 700 feet. The airplane made another left turn, entered the traffic pattern, and made a low pass down runway 09 at about 100 feet above the ground. The airplane was observed to start a slow and steady climb described as "not a quick climb" over the trees at the departure end of the runway. The airplane made a "sharp left turn" the nose of the airplane was observed to pitch down about 45 degrees followed by an increase in engine power. The airplane disappeared from view below the tree line followed by an impact sound. Examination of the airframe revealed the right wing was accelerated forward and the left wing was attached to the airframe and fire damaged. Both flaps were extended between 25 to 30-degrees. Review of RANS S6S performance data sheet revealed the airplane will stall at 36 MPH with flaps extended. Examination of the airframe, engine assembly, and flight controls revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilots failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled decent, collision with the ground, and a post crash fire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/10/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1524
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Taylorsville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28681
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355550N
Event Location Longitude 0811142W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID HKY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1189
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.44
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21198
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date Dec 10 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 26 2007 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charlotte FSDO-33

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N949S
NTSB Number ATL07LA025
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Fagan
Aircraft Model Rans S-6S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 09041612
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 110
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Leon M Fagan Jr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 35
Aircraft Owner City Taylorsville
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28681
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4NC3
Departure City Taylorsville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1510
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 21 2007 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --