Amateur-built Rans S-6S accident near Taylorsville, North Carolina, December 10, 2006
On December 10, 2006 at about 8:24 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-6S, registered N949S, was destroyed in an accident near Taylorsville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled decent, collision with the ground, and a post crash fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 2006 · about 8:24 pm local time
- Place
- Taylorsville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-6S
- Registration
- N949S · registry record · serial 09041612
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated the pilot wanted to show him how quiet the airplane was and asked another friend to go on the flight while the witness observed the airplane from the ground. The airplane departed from runway 27 and made a left turn towards the south and disappeared from view. A short time later the airplane was heard approaching the airport. The airplane was observed flying from south to north and crossed the airport at midfield at about 700 feet. The airplane made another left turn, entered the traffic pattern, and made a low pass down runway 09 at about 100 feet above the ground. The airplane was observed to start a slow and steady climb described as "not a quick climb" over the trees at the departure end of the runway. The airplane made a "sharp left turn" the nose of the airplane was observed to pitch down about 45 degrees followed by an increase in engine power. The airplane disappeared from view below the tree line followed by an impact sound. Examination of the airframe revealed the right wing was accelerated forward and the left wing was attached to the airframe and fire damaged. Both flaps were extended between 25 to 30-degrees. Review of RANS S6S performance data sheet revealed the airplane will stall at 36 MPH with flaps extended. Examination of the airframe, engine assembly, and flight controls revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction.
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: 199 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 4NC3 Taylorsville NC at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.44 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from HKY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL07LA025.