Amateur-built Rans S-12 accident near Homestead, Florida, February 10, 2001
On February 10, 2001 at about 3:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-12, registered N823S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homestead, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain flying speed during a soft field takeoff, that resulted in the loss of control and a stall/ spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2001 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Homestead, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-12
- Registration
- N823S · no longer on the register · serial 01960685
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost power, and the pilot made a forced landing in a plowed field. The pilot examined the engine and felt that he could takeoff again. The pilot stated that after takeoff he reduced flaps from two notches to one, and the airplane banked to the right. The airplane then went into a stall/ spin, and collided with the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed that there was contamination in the fuel system but there were no other maintenance related problems noted with the airplane.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 465 hours in all; 225 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 343 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 27, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 229 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2001; 229 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 920 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HXP Homestead FL at 3:08 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from MIA, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N823S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.