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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2020 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Arthur Dunn Air Park · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N73KA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA20LA079.