Amateur-built Rans accident near Reidsville, North Carolina, January 18, 2019
On January 18, 2019 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1998 amateur-built Rans, registered N3075E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Reidsville, North Carolina (Rockingham County Nc Shiloh 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 improper pitch control during a go-around, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2019 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reidsville, North Carolina · Rockingham County Nc Shiloh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-12, built 1998
- Registration
- N3075E · no longer on the register · serial R0591076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the light sport airplane reported that, during his third solo touch-and-go landing, the airplane "started rising" during the flare. He initiated a go-around and applied full power, but the airplane nosed forward and landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 78.5 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 51.1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 9, 2017
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 7, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,010 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 / 99UL (piston); 250 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIF Reidsville NC at 3:30 pm
- Destination: SIF Reidsville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 4:20 pm from KSIF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 12, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Foreign Notification | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 5 pages | 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 N3075E 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.