Rans S-12XL accident near Breckenridge, Texas, October 24, 2008
On October 24, 2008 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Rans S-12XL, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N20530, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Breckenridge, Texas (Stephens County 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 adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2008 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Breckenridge, Texas · Stephens County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-12XL Airaile, amateur-built · all S-12XLs on the register
- Registration
- N20530 · no longer on the register · serial 12010937
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he had flown over to a neighboring airport in clear weather, with wind from the south at five to six knots. He took off on runway 17 and turned left base for a touch-and-go landing on runway 22. He noted that he allowed his airspeed to get too low on short final and he then applied power for a go-around. He made a slight left turn, but the airplane's right wing "dropped in [a] stall." The pilot was unable to recover. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 13, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 277 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 26, 2008; 71 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotex 912SL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ETN Eastland TX at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BKD Breckenridge TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,399 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from BKD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.