Amateur-built RANS S-12 AIRAILE accident near Benton, Tennessee, December 12, 2015
On December 12, 2015 at about 7:40 pm local time, a 1992 amateur-built RANS S-12 AIRAILE, registered N6202N, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Benton, Tennessee (Chilhowee Gliderport airport). 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 failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 12, 2015 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Benton, Tennessee · Chilhowee Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-12 AIRAILE, built 1992
- Registration
- N6202N · no longer on the register · serial 0992285
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane was the last to takeoff in a group of three airplanes. After takeoff, the airplane entered a steep climb, banked sharply left, and then descended rapidly in a manner consistent with an aerodynamic stall and spin. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, during the initial climb, the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin. Although the pilot had coronary artery disease, and he was taking clozapine, a drug that can cause seizures or cardiac arrest, it could not be determined whether the pilot was impaired or incapacitated at the time of the accident.
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 initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 92A Benton TN at 7:40 pm
- Destination: NONE Athens TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from MMI, 10 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.