Rans S12 accident near Mcclure, Ohio, December 16, 2018
On December 16, 2018 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2000 Rans S12, registered N3165V, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Mcclure, Ohio (Private 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 cold seizure of the cylinder/piston due to the pilot’s failure to adequately warm the engine before takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power during a departure climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2018 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mcclure, Ohio · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S12 XL, built 2000 · all S12s on the register
- Registration
- N3165V · registry record · serial 04284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot warmed the engine to 120°F before taxiing to the runway for departure on a personal flight. While the airplane was climbing through 50 to 100 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. He ensured the throttle control was full forward and pumped the throttle control twice, but the engine speed continued to decrease. The pilot performed an off-airport landing on a field, during which the airplane stuck a power line pole and the right wing impacted the ground. After the accident, the pilot reported the engine had low cylinder compression and scoring on the piston and cylinder walls. There were also aluminum fragments within the cylinder. He said that the engine was overhauled about 1 year before his purchase of the airplane by the previous owner. He stated that he was "fairly certain" that the engine did not have any problems before the accident flight. He said the engine radiator was not covered for cold weather operation. He believed the piston failure was due to cold seizure. According to the Rotax 2-Stroke Maintenance Schedule, the engine had a minimum coolant temperature of 150°F. Given the available information, it is likely that the engine lost partial power due to a cold seizure of the cylinder/piston.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 192 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 975 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 385 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Mcclure OH at 1:30 am
- Destination: PVT Mcclure OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from USE, 12 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2020. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Correspondence - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Ultralight News | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Maintenance Schedule | 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.
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.