Amateur-built S6S Rans accident near Cartersville, Georgia, March 19, 2009
On March 19, 2009 at about 3:08 pm local time, a amateur-built S6S Rans, registered N312RW, was substantially damaged in an accident during emergency descent near Cartersville, Georgia (Cartersville Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed following a partial loss of engine power during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was chafed wires in the ignition system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 2009 · about 3:08 pm local time
- Place
- Cartersville, Georgia · Cartersville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S6S Rans
- Registration
- N312RW · no longer on the register · serial 11041619S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing in an experimental, amateur-built airplane, equipped with a non-certificated 65-horsepower engine. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost partial engine power, banked 90 degrees left, nosed down and collided with the ground while attempting to return to the runway. Examination of the engine ignition system found that it was equipped with two coil packs. Chafing was observed on two wires from the aft coil pack. If the chafed wire running to the ignition made contact with the adjacent ground wire, or the engine block, the aft cylinder would have stopped producing power, and the remaining cylinder would have had difficulty continuing 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 engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 103 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 7, 2008; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPC Cartersville GA at 3:08 pm
- Destination: VPC Cartersville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,760 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from VPC, 1 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
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.