Amateur-built RANS S-12 XL accident near Cleveland, Georgia, May 18, 2013
On May 18, 2013 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-12 XL, registered N81788, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Cleveland, Georgia (Mountain Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of overall recent flight experience and lack of experience in make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2013 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Georgia · Mountain Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-12 XL
- Registration
- N81788 · no longer on the register · serial 10950663-0197
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting his first flight in the two-seat experimental amateur-built airplane, with the non-certificated pilot/owner seated in the right seat. The pilot reported that the airplane accelerated and departed from the turf runway without incident; however, as it climbed to an altitude about 300 feet above the ground, he entered a left 180-degree turn. During the turn, the airplane inadvertently stalled, and descended into a pond, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Both occupants were able to exit the airplane and stated that they did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported about 1,600 hours of total flight experience with no previous flight hours in make and model. In addition, he had not flown at all during the previous 7 months. The owner had accumulated about 30 hours in the accident airplane. He stated that he had seen the pilot flying other airplanes in the past and assumed he was capable of the flying the accident airplane.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,580 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 1,570 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 20, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,442 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0GE5 Cleveland GA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 0GE5 Cleveland GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from GVL, 18 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.
Other NTSB records under N81788 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.