Amateur-built RANS S-12 accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, June 12, 1993
On June 12, 1993 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S-12, registered N162JT, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (Massey Ranch Airpark 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THIS WAS DUE TO IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF A COMPONENT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE BUILDER/PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1993 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · Massey Ranch Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-12
- Registration
- N162JT · no longer on the register · serial 1091136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE EGT GAGE FOR ONE OF THE TWO CYLINDERS WAS INDICATING HIGHER THAN NORMAL. HE INITIATED A TURN TO RETURN FOR LANDING BUT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. HE THEN INADVERTENTLY STALLED AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE WHICH CRASHED INTO A POND ON THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FUEL STARVATION WAS DUE TO THE IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF A 'Y' FITTING WHICH CONNECTS THE FORE AND AFT FUEL LINES FROM EACH FUEL TANK. THE PILOT HAD PLACED THE 'Y' FITTING IN THE CENTER OF THE FUEL TANK BETWEEN THE FORE AND AFT FUEL WITHDRAWALS AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE TANK. THE CORRECT PLACEMENT OF THE FITTING IS ABOUT 12 INCHES BELOW THE FUEL TANK.
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: 117 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 11, 1993; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Amw 225/2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from DAB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.