Rans S-12 XL accident near Pelion, South Carolina, May 4, 2008
On May 4, 2008 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Rans S-12 XL, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N9148Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Pelion, South Carolina (Lexington County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the improper actions of the instructor pilot and the low experience level of the instructor pilot in this make and model of aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2008 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pelion, South Carolina · Lexington County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-12 XL Airaile, amateur-built · all S-12 XLs on the register
- Registration
- N9148Y · no longer on the register · serial 06950619
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was a short instructional flight in an experimental amateur-homebuilt airplane with a flight instructor with no flight time in the airplane, flying from the right seat. The flight was making a turn to base when the right seat instructor pilot reduced the power and the engine lost power. A forced landing was executed and the aircraft was substantially damaged upon impact with the ground. Inspection revealed no pre-accident anomalies with the engine. The right seat instructor pilot's recommendations were not to reduce power on a two stroke engine. The right seat instructor pilot also believed the left seat student pilot, with all the time in the aircraft, should have told him not to reduce power on the two stroke engine.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 15, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Crew member
No details recorded.
Crew member
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 262 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 4, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 920 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8J0 Pelion SC at 5:50 pm
- Destination: 6J0 Pelion SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,335 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KCAE, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.
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.