Rans S12XL accident near Port Isabel, Texas, December 16, 2020
On December 16, 2020 at about 5:00 am local time, a 2005 Rans S12XL, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N449JP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Isabel, Texas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and aerodynamic stall following a loss of engine power during an unknown phase of flight, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 2020 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Port Isabel, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S12XL, built 2005, amateur-built · all S12XLs on the register
- Registration
- N449JP · registry record · serial 08950644
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot and flight instructor departed on an instructional flight in the experimental airplane. The airplane was later located about 1/3 mile south of the departure airport. There were no witnesses to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that engine exhibited detonation and scoring of its cylinders, which would have resulted in a loss of engine power. Incorrect timing, poor fuel quality, and lubrication breakdown could have contributed, however, based on the available evidence, the reason for the detonation could not be determined. The impact damage of the airplane and lack of ground scarring was characteristic of a low-speed nose-down impact with terrain, which would have resulted from an aerodynamic stall. The airplane make and model is categorized as rapidly losing energy (airspeed/altitude) when there is a loss or reduction of engine power. The airplane was equipped with a snow mobile engine. The required airplane flight testing was not performed following the installation of the engine and, as a result, may have induced negative handling qualities during low-speed flight, such as those near the stall flight regime. Although the flight instructor’s autopsy showed signs of heart disease it’s unlikely this impaired his ability to respond to the engine failure. Additionally, the noncertificated pilot’s autopsy showed cardiovascular disease that increased his risk of experiencing a sudden impairing or incapacitating medical event. Toxicology testing detected Duloxetine; a medication commonly used to treat depression. Metaxalone, cetirizine, and Chlorthalidone were also detected and combined had the potential to cause impairment. However, because the flight instructor was the only qualified pilot abord the airplane, held the responsibility for ensuring the safe operation of the flight, and for responding to the engine emergency, the noncertificated pilot would have not had the skill or experience to play more than a very limited role. Thus, it is unlikely that the effects of his medical conditions or medications contributed to the accident.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. 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 CEN21LA088.