Amateur-built RANS S-12 accident near Saluda, Virginia, June 28, 1992
On June 28, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-12, registered N43364, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saluda, Virginia. It was a personal 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
WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE FUEL, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Saluda, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-12
- Registration
- N43364 · no longer on the register · serial 1191148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE CIRCLING TO PHOTOGRAPH A LIGHTHOUSE, WHILE OVERWATER AT 100 FEET AGL, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE IN WATER, WHERE THE OCCUPANTS WERE RESCUED BY PERSONNEL ON A NEARBY BOAT. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED AFLOAT UNTIL IT WAS RECOVERED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED WATER CONTAMINATED FUEL IN THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL TANKS. SEVEN GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE TANKS, WHICH INCLUDED ABOUT 20 OUNCES OF WATER. THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WATER, WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS AFLOAT.
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: 140 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 41 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 5, 1992; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N43364 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.