Amateur-built RANS S-6S accident near New Braunfels, Texas, April 22, 2012
On April 22, 2012 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-6S, registered N137AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's loss of airplane control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2012 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas · New Braunfels Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-6S COYOTE II
- Registration
- N137AB · no longer on the register · serial 09041605
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Although the non-certificated pilot said that there was no intention for flight and that he was going to make a high-speed taxi, tape recordings from the air traffic control tower revealed that the pilot called the tower and said he was ready to taxi; he did not request a high-speed taxi. The controller gave the pilot instructions to runway 17 and to hold short of runway 13; the pilot then reported that he was holding short of runway 13. The controller instructed him to cross runway 13, and cleared the airplane for takeoff on runway 17. The pilot did not acknowledge this clearance but proceeded down runway 17. The controller observed the airplane become airborne momentarily before impacting terrain.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 14 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KBAZ New Braunfels TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: K0T7 Allen TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,364 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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 N137AB 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.