Amateur-built RANS S12 AIRAILE accident near Cobbs Creek, Virginia, October 7, 1995
On October 7, 1995 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S12 AIRAILE (ultralight), registered N43364, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cobbs Creek, Virginia (Hudgins Farm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1995 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cobbs Creek, Virginia · Hudgins Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S12 AIRAILE RANS S12 A
- 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 stated that the ultralight airplane's performance appeared normal during the ground roll, liftoff and initial climb. When the airplane was approximately 130 above the ground, the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane to attain the best glide speed, and made a forced landing in a field. The airplane struck a tree approximately 40 feet above ground level. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctionomaly; however, the spark plug electrodes had a dried deposit on them. The spark plugs were cleaned and reinstalled, and the engine was satisfactorily test run.
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: 236 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 236 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 83 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VA90 at 3:00 pm
- Destination: America VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:32 pm from RIC, 43 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.
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.