Rans S12 accident near Titusville, Florida, January 16, 2020
On January 16, 2020 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1999 Rans S12, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N73KA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Titusville, Florida (Arthur Dunn Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2020 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Arthur Dunn Air Park · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S12 XL, built 1999, amateur-built · all S12s on the register
- Registration
- N73KA · registry record · serial 10980858
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the initial climbout about 200 ft above ground level, the engine stopped. The pilot made a 180° turn and attempted to land. The airplane impacted the ground and flipped over inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed that the cockpit and fuselage were crushed. Both horizontal stabilizers were bent upward and buckled. A postaccident examination of the engine and its components, which included several successful engine runs, revealed no anomalies that would have precluded 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 (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,147 hours in all; 325 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,085 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 361 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 2019; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Viking 90 (piston); 42 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X21 Titusville FL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: X21 Titusville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 1,805 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 6:25 pm from KX21
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of left side of airplane inverted showing cockpit crushing
Photo 2 – View of right side of airplane inverted showing horizontal stabilizer and elevator bucklingThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 12, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record Pilot Telephone Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Examination Summary - Viking Aircraft Engines | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N73KA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N73KA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Rans S-12 31 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Rans 91 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Viking 90 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Arthur Dunn Air Park Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 985 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,699 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N73KA 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA20LA079.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.