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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2013 · about 1:50 pm local time · cases in 2013
- Place
- Schertz, Texas · Kitty Hawk Flying Field · cases near this airport · 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iic's Telephone Conversation with the Pilot. | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Crewmember Statement from Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Map | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N137AB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N137AB: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Rotax 912 241 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kitty Hawk Flying Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,986 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N137AB 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN13CA430.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.