Pilot Debrief

MCCORKLE ROBERT B RANS S-12 AIRAILE near Benton, TN — 2015-12-12

Final reportERA16LA068
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Date
2015-12-12
Location
Benton, TN, USA
Airport
92A
Aircraft
MCCORKLE ROBERT B RANS S-12 AIRAILE
Registration
N6202N
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin.

NTSB narrative

The sport pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane was the last to takeoff in a group of three airplanes. After takeoff, the airplane entered a steep climb, banked sharply left, and then descended rapidly in a manner consistent with an aerodynamic stall and spin. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, during the initial climb, the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin. Although the pilot had coronary artery disease, and he was taking clozapine, a drug that can cause seizures or cardiac arrest, it could not be determined whether the pilot was impaired or incapacitated at the time of the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff during initial climb when energy state was low.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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