Rans S-6ES accident near Ozark, Arkansas, July 29, 2023
On July 29, 2023 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1991 Rans S-6ES, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N123TG, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Ozark, Arkansas (Etna Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Oil starvation of the propeller speed reduction unit which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2023 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Arkansas · Etna Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-6ES, built 1991, amateur-built · all S-6ESs on the register
- Registration
- N123TG · no longer on the register · serial 0291162
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that on his second flight in the airplane, he completed some basic maneuvers without incident and returned to the airport. Shortly after, he and a passenger boarded for a local flight. The pilot completed an engine run up with no anomalies noted, and then departed from the grass runway. About 70 ft above ground level he felt a vibration and was unable to maintain altitude. The engine RPM and oil pressure decreased as the airspeed slowed. The airplane collided with trees and then impacted the ground. The pilot and passenger egressed without incident, then the airplane burst into flames. The passenger recorded a video of the entire accident flight. The video revealed that during the initial climb, the engine RPM and sound appeared to gradually decrease. The airplane did not continue to climb, and the engine RPM continued to decrease. The airplane collided with a tree and then impacted the ground. A postaccident photo from the pilot showed the airplane was mostly consumed by the fire. The pilot provided a summary of his postaccident engine examination, which revealed that the oil supply line to the propeller speed reduction unit was completely clogged with an unknown gray material. Also, the gear reduction drive was seized, lacked oil, and the bearings were covered in a dry, rusty powder. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to oil starvation of the propeller speed reduction unit.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 142 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,386 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ram Performance Subaru E81 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,130 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KFSM, 26 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFSM 292253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 37/22 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP156 T03670217
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. 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 CEN23LA338.