Pilot Debrief

EDWARD M VAN MORLAN RANS S-12 near Gardner, KS — 2015-09-28

Final reportCEN15LA431
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Date
2015-09-28
Location
Gardner, KS, USA
Airport
K34
Aircraft
EDWARD M VAN MORLAN RANS S-12
Registration
N98ES
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate airspeed control and the airplane’s exceedance of its critical angle-of-attack during the forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation caused by contaminants in the fuel tank.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, shortly after departure, the engine experienced a loss of power, and he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing. A witness observed the airplane pitch up, stall, and roll into a spin before impacting terrain in a near-vertical attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane found that fuel delivery to the engine was restricted by grease in the fuel tanks. It is likely that the engine was starved of fuel due to the grease contamination, which led to the loss of power. However, the pilot did not subsequently maintain the airplane's airspeed and angle-of-attack as he maneuvered for the forced landing, and the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel system before takeoff to ensure proper operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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