Amateur-built RANS S-12 accident near Bonham, Texas, August 7, 2000
On August 7, 2000 at about 12:35 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-12, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bonham, Texas (Jones Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering to return to the airport. Factors were the gusty wind conditions and the pilot's lack of experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2000 · about 12:35 pm local time
- Place
- Bonham, Texas · Jones Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-12
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 1292335
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the non-certificated pilot and the passenger, the unregistered amateur-built airplane departed runway 35, and while climbing thru 800 feet agl, encountered 'gusty wind conditions.' The pilot decided to return to airport and during his left turn toward the airport he encountered 'a large gust of wind.' He applied full power; however, the airplane would not maintain altitude or airspeed and subsequently, impacted a building, two vehicles, and the ground. The pilot reported that he accumulated a total of 15 flight hours, all of which were in 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
Pilot
- Flight time: 15 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F00 at 12:35 pm
- Destination: 4F4 Gilmer TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from F39, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 UNREG 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.