Amateur-built RANS S6ES Coyote II accident near Tombstone, Arizona, April 27, 2005
On April 27, 2005 at about 4:40 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S6ES Coyote II (ultralight), registered N32050, was destroyed in an accident near Tombstone, Arizona (Tombstone Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the flying pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall and uncontrolled descent into terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2005 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tombstone, Arizona · Tombstone Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S6ES Coyote II
- Registration
- N32050 · no longer on the register · serial S6ES116
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental airplane lost engine power during cruise flight and impacted open terrain. Witnesses reported hearing the engine "sputter" and lose power. The airplane turned towards the airport, then "went straight down" to impact with the ground. During the on scene portion of the investigation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors were unable to locate any evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks or on the ground surrounding the main wreckage. Both of the wing fuel tanks and the fuselage header tank were breached during the impact sequence. During disassembly of the carburetor, auto gas was found in the carburetor bowl. During the recovery of the aircraft 1/2 gallon of auto gas was recovered from the left fuel tank. An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical discrepancies. The airplane's logbooks revealed that the last annual inspection was conducted in June 2003. Neither of the pilots held an FAA issued pilot or medical certificate.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 825 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 1, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P29 Tombstone AZ at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from TUS, 56 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.