Amateur-built RANS S 7 accident near Somerville, Tennessee, December 11, 2011
On December 11, 2011 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S 7, registered N347DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Somerville, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's incapacitation due to a ruptured berry aneurysm during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 2011 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Somerville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S 7
- Registration
- N347DS · no longer on the register · serial 0491082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness reported that, during takeoff, the airplane became airborne about 300 feet down the turf runway. It then drifted right towards the trees, abruptly banked left, and oscillated about its roll axis. The airplane subsequently pitched up sharply to an angle of 45 degrees or more, followed by a stall and nose-down descent into the runway. According to the witness, the engine ran continuously during the impact sequence. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The sport pilot's autopsy report noted an acute rupture of a berry aneurysm, which most likely incapacitated him during the takeoff. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued more than 4 years before the accident; however, as a sport pilot, he was not required to hold a current medical certificate, and, additionally, a more recent similar medical examination would likely not have detected the aneurysm.
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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Other loss of consciousness › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 230 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 284 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 12, 2007; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Somerville TN at 7:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Somerville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 1,300 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MKL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.