Amateur-built Rans S-7 accident near Welsh, Louisiana, August 6, 2002
On August 6, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-7, registered N497RP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Welsh, Louisiana (Welsh airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain the minimum required airspeed for flight, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Welsh, Louisiana · Welsh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-7
- Registration
- N497RP · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a normal takeoff to the north from a turf covered runway, the airplane stalled, and subsequently, impacted the ground. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the wind was from the north at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.
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
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 386 hours in all; 302 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 386 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 25, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 302 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 15, 2002; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6R1 Welsh LA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 3R7 Jennings LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from LCH, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.