Amateur-built R 12 accident near Clanton, Alabama, August 19, 1995
On August 19, 1995 at about 1:20 pm local time, a amateur-built R 12 (ultralight), registered N800RK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clanton, Alabama (Private Grass Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper flying speed, and the improper mixture of the fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1995 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Clanton, Alabama · Private Grass Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built R 12
- Registration
- N800RK · no longer on the register · serial 79173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot noticed that the engine was developing 100 RPM less than normal in the initial climb following liftoff. The pilot began to execute a forced landing and pulled back the throttle. He then gave the engine full power and stalled, resulting in a collision with a fence and the ground. A heavy coating of fuel and oil mixture was found on the spark plugs. The examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor was set excessively rich, and/or the fuel oil mixture was mixed incorrectly.
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: 397 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 397 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 163 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 1994; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Amw 540-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from MGM, 35 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.
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.