Amateur-built SKYRANGER V MAX accident near Viola, Arkansas, March 25, 2012
On March 25, 2012 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SKYRANGER V MAX, registered N912FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Viola, Arkansas. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2012 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Viola, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKYRANGER V MAX
- Registration
- N912FL · registry record · serial 0306327
- 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 on a local flight, when the pilot decided to land in a farm field. According to the pilot, during the landing, the airplane bounced three times, so he applied power to perform a go-around. The pilot added that the engine was at full power; however, the airplane stalled, clipped treetops, impacted the ground, and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact problems 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
- 550090 during descent
- 300241 during nose over
- 650470 during 650
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 4, 2011
- Medical certificate: sport pilot
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 1, 2011
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: KFLP Marion County R AR at 8:30 pm
- Destination: KFLP Marion County R AR
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°C, dew point 52°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KBPK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12CA205.