Amateur-built S-12 accident near Big Bear, California, June 28, 1992
On June 28, 1992 at about 5:40 pm local time, a amateur-built S-12, registered N512, was destroyed in an accident near Big Bear, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND THE INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL/MUSH CONDITION. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION AND THE PILOTS LIMITED TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1992 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-12
- Registration
- N512 · registry record · serial 0491072
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRPORT EMPLOYEES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 25 AND ACHIEVE AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO BE 'STRUGGLING' AS IT FLEW DOWN THE RUNWAY AT THAT ALTITUDE. ABOUT ONE HALF MILE BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BEGIN A LEFT TURN, STALL, THEN FALL OFF ON THE LEFT WING AND HIT THE GROUND NOSE FIRST. BASED ON THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE ALTITUDE REPORTED BY THE AIRPORT WORKERS, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE FOR THE 6,820 FOOT HIGH AIRPORT WAS CALCULATED TO BE IN EXCESS OF 8,800 FEET. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 130 HOURS, WITH 49 ACCUMULATED IN THE EXPERIMENTAL HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT.
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: 130 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1992; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L35 at 5:35 pm
- Destination: L39 Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.