Vans RV-12 accident near Niceville, Florida, November 17, 2018
On November 17, 2018 at about 6:37 pm local time, a 2013 Vans RV-12, registered N232VA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Niceville, Florida (Ruckel airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons, and pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn back to the runway, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, and subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2018 · about 6:37 pm local time
- Place
- Niceville, Florida · Ruckel · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Vans RV-12 No Series, built 2013
- Registration
- N232VA · no longer on the register · serial 12006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner of the airplane, who was a flight instructor, completed a 100-hour inspection on the light sport airplane before another flight instructor departed in the airplane on an instructional flight. That instructor reported that, during takeoff, the engine was not producing full power and experienced a momentary loss of power. He returned to the airport and landed uneventfully. The owner examined the airplane and concluded that the loss of power was likely due to vapor lock. They left the engine cowl open to cool the engine, and about 2 hours later, the owner/flight instructor departed with a student on the accident flight. The student stated that, after takeoff, the engine sputtered and the flight instructor took control. He had no recollection of the accident other than that the altimeter indicated 240 ft. Recorded data revealed that the airplane experienced a significant reduction in engine rpm for unknown reasons about 35 seconds after the takeoff. The throttle was reduced, and the airplane reached a maximum altitude of about 250 ft at an airspeed of 44 knots. Vertical acceleration began to oscillate, the airplane was banking to the left and reached a 68° left wing down bank angle. It then began to descend rapidly; the throttle was advanced and engine speed increased; however, shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted the ground. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The airplane's flight track and recorded data were consistent with it entering a stall during a left turn back toward the airport.
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 defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,348 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 14 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 3.9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 389 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 14, 2018; 100 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 389 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL17 Niceville FL at 6:37 pm
- Destination: FL17 Niceville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KVPS, 5 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
11 documents, released by the NTSB on April 23, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Interview-student Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Cfi-pilot of First Flight-witness | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Interview Summaries | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Recorded Flight Data Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Recorded Flight Data Specialist's Factual Report Attachment 1 | data file | Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.