Amateur-built Rans S-9 accident near Dothan, Alabama, February 9, 2003
On February 9, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-9, registered N34AP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dothan, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and subsequent inflight collision with the ground
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dothan, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-9
- Registration
- N34AP · registry record · serial NONE
- 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, shortly after takeoff he made a steep left turn to avoid other aircraft in the immediate area. The pilot stated, "he allowed the airplane to get slow and stall". The pilot estimated that he was approximately 100 feet above ground level in a steep left turn. Subsequently the airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude. The on scene examination of the airplane found no binding crimping or any other restriction to flight control movement aft of the cockpit.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,804 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2002; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503CID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dothan AL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from DHN
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.
Other NTSB records under N34AP 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.