Double D Enterprises RANS S-12 accident near Baneberry, Tennessee, June 26, 2000
On June 26, 2000 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Double D Enterprises RANS S-12, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N6279D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baneberry, Tennessee (Baneberry airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were the trees, and gusting winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2000 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Baneberry, Tennessee · Baneberry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Double D Enterprises RANS S-12, amateur-built
- Registration
- N6279D · no longer on the register · serial 0195551
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while practicing low approaches to a private strip, he encountered a down draft which exceeded the available climb capability of the airplane. The airplane settled into trees bending the left wing up to about 90 degrees. Weather at the time of the accident was; wind 230 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots, and visibility at 10 statute miles.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,340 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1999; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,096 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 618 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOR Morristown TN at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PVT TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:20 pm from MOR, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.