Rans S7 accident near Cubero, New Mexico, July 10, 2011
On July 10, 2011 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Rans S7, registered N377JG, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Cubero, New Mexico (L Bar Ranch Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain rotation speed prior to takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2011 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cubero, New Mexico · L Bar Ranch Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S7 UNDESIGNAT
- Registration
- N377JG · no longer on the register · serial 0206428
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taking off from a remote, dirt airstrip with a slight tailwind. He said that he rotated before reaching rotation speed and lost control shortly after lift off. The airplane descended, struck a fence,nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the wing spar and wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 792 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 792 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 11, 2008
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 384 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,232 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Cubero NM at 4:00 pm
- Destination: AEG Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from KAEG, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.