Rans S6EX COYOTE II accident near Delano, California, May 30, 1998
On May 30, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Rans S6EX COYOTE II, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N6179A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delano, California (Delano Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, failure to maintain directional control, and his failure to maintain aircraft control
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Delano, California · Delano Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S6EX COYOTE II S6EX COYOT, amateur-built · all S6EX COYOTE IIs on the register
- Registration
- N6179A · no longer on the register · serial 0493472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the aircraft encountered a sudden wind gust, the effects of which the pilot failed to control. The results were a wing tip drag, a lateral runway departure, and a subsequent noseover.
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: 141 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 1997; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 4400817 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCY Tracy CA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: DLO Delano CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 5,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.