Rans S-12 AIRAILE accident near Clearwater, Florida, September 18, 1994
On September 18, 1994 at about 7:13 pm local time, a Rans S-12 AIRAILE, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N4123N, was destroyed in an accident near Clearwater, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1994 · about 7:13 pm local time
- Place
- Clearwater, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-12 AIRAILE S-12 AIRAI, amateur-built · all S-12 AIRAILEs on the register
- Registration
- N4123N · no longer on the register · serial 0992290
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT ATTEMPTED HIS SECOND FLIGHT OF THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. AFTER TAKEOFF WITNESSES STATED THEY HEARD THE ENGINE FAIL. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND CRASHED AND CAME TO REST IN A TREE. A FIRE ERUPTED AND CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE AFTER RECOVERY WAS CONDUCTED AND NO CAUSE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE ALMOST TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRPLANE.
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: 61 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax RT-24 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CLW Largo FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CLW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 pm from PIE, 1 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.