Amateur-built RANS S-6S accident near Schertz, Texas, July 13, 2013
On July 13, 2013 at about 1:50 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built RANS S-6S, registered N137AB, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Schertz, Texas (Kitty Hawk Flying Field). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot's operation of the airplane, which resulted in impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2013 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Schertz, Texas · Kitty Hawk Flying Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-6S, built 2006
- Registration
- N137AB · no longer on the register · serial 09041605
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had not held any kind of pilot certificate since his student pilot certificate expired about 40 years ago. He also reported that he had no record of receiving any flight instruction. During takeoff, after liftoff from the departure end of the runway, the airspeed was too slow and the airplane would not climb and would not accelerate. The airplane drifted to the left and impacted trees and terrain on the edge of the airfield property. After the pilot and passenger exited the airplane there was an explosion and the airplane was destroyed by the postimpact fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Explosion (post-impact) during post (impact)
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Flight time: 200 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TS67 Schertz TX at 1:50 pm
- Destination: TS67 Schertz TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 650 ft by 20 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 pm from KRND, 5 miles away
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.
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.