Amateur-built RANS S-12 XL Airaile accident near Cummings, Georgia, May 6, 2004
On May 6, 2004 at about 1:25 am local time, a amateur-built RANS S-12 XL Airaile, registered N8KD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cummings, Georgia (Mathis Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unqualified person's poor judgement and his failed to maintain clearance from power lines and trees while maneuvering for a landing which resulted in the in-flight collision with trees and power lines. Factors were the dark night and the unqualified person's physical impairment due to alcohol consumption.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2004 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Cummings, Georgia · Mathis Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-12 XL Airaile
- Registration
- N8KD · 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
Witnesses at the airport stated that it was dark outside and that the runway was not equipped with runway edge lights. The witnesses aligned their cars along the end of the runway and turned on their headlights. The noncertificated pilot made three low approaches to runway 21, but on the third approach, the pilot banked the airplane to the left to avoid a collision with the wind sock. The airplane descended and witnesses lost sight of the airplane. Witnesses next reported hearing the on-board ballistic rocket system detonating followed by a power line transformer explosion. The airplane was located 275 feet, southeast of the airport in a nose low vertical attitude. Examination of flight controls revealed continuity. There were paint smears on the back spar and the propeller blade. The two fuel tanks were not ruptured and over six gallons of fuel were recovered. The toxicology report revealed that the pilot had a blood alcohol level of .074%. Fluoxetine (a prescription antidepressant) was also detected in the pilot's blood.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0GE5 Cleveland GA
- Destination: GA27 Cumming GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 1,550 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 am from KMGE, 21 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.
Other NTSB records under N8KD 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.