Amateur-built Rans S-6ES Coyote II accident near Cartersville, Georgia, March 5, 2006
On March 5, 2006 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-6ES Coyote II, registered N5196W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cartersville, Georgia (Cartersville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during cruise flight for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an forced landing, on ground collision with a ditch, and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2006 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cartersville, Georgia · Cartersville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-6ES Coyote II
- Registration
- N5196W · no longer on the register · serial 0492295
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were practicing takeoff training, pattern work, and approach to landing instruction. The CFI stated that after making a "touch and go", the engine began to "sputter" and was losing power. The airplane was 300 to 400 feet above the ground and about two thirds down runway-01.The CFI took control of the airplane and leveled it out in hopes that the engine would regain power. The engine stopped and the CFI made a forced landing in a field adjacent to the airport. The airplane collided with a ditch on touchdown and nosed over. The registered owner of the airplane stated, "The engine assembly was removed from the airframe and examined. The top spark plugs were removed. The electrodes were normal as depicted in the Rotax Maintenance Manual, and the proper gap was set. The oil and fuel lines were not breached. A visual fuel sample was taken and no contaminants were noted. The fuel system was intact and full of fuel. The in-line fuel filters were free of contaminants. The carburetors were inspected and no contaminants were noted. The electrical system was examined. A functional check of the electrical coils and lighting coils was completed. No anomalies were noted. Manually turning the engine checked the gearbox. The rotary valves were functional and compression appeared normal with rotation of the engine by hand. The engine head was removed and no damage was noted to the pistons, sleeves or rings. No determination was made pertaining to the loss of engine power."
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,300 as pilot in command; 1,900 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 218 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,030 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPC Cartersville GA at 9:44 pm
- Destination: VPC Cartersville GA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KVPC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 N5196W 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.