Rans S 12XL accident near Sharpsville, Indiana, June 3, 2015
On June 3, 2015 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1996 Rans S 12XL, registered N51120, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Sharpsville, Indiana (Private Airstrip 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a building.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2015 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sharpsville, Indiana · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S 12XL XL, built 1996 · all S 12XLs on the register
- Registration
- N51120 · registry record · serial 06960730
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while taking off from his private airstrip, a gust of wind "hit" his airplane. He corrected for the gust, but when the gust stopped he was unable to correct "quick enough" to keep the airplane in line with the runway. The airplane struck the pilot's barn roof which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine 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 control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 167.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Sharpsville IN at 5:00 pm
- Destination: N/A Sharpsville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 977 ft by 192 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KOKK, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 GAA15CA105.