Amateur-built Rans S-12 accident near Caribou, Maine, June 14, 2006
On June 14, 2006 at about 11:10 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-12, registered N248PC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caribou, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a subsequent impact with trees. A factor in the accident was the unmowed area of vegetation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2006 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Caribou, Maine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-12
- Registration
- N248PC · registry record · serial 0994515
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated a takeoff from a turf runway. After the airplane became airborne it drifted to the left over an approximately 2-foot tall area of unmowed vegetation. The left main landing gear entered the top of the vegetation, the pilot "fought it off," and the airplane broke free. He then pushed forward on the control stick to keep from reaching a critical angle of attack and the landing gear reentered the vegetation once again. The pilot broke free for a second time, and began to climb. He then realized that he was approaching trees, but thought that he would be able to climb above them. Moments later the right wing struck the top of a tree, the airplane pivoted to the right and impacted the ground, seriously injuring the pilot and substantially damaging 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: 300 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 134 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2005; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 975 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Caribou ME at 11:10 pm
- Destination: Presque Isle ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from CAR
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.