Amateur-built Rans S-12 accident near Rincon, Georgia, March 29, 2008
On March 29, 2008 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Rans S-12, registered N6189, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Rincon, Georgia (Hooter Field). 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 airspeed during initial climb which led to an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2008 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Rincon, Georgia · Hooter Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rans S-12
- Registration
- N6189 · no longer on the register · serial 1092307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot/owner departed from a private strip climbed rapidly before entering a steep left turn about 125 feet above ground level. The property owner, a friend of the pilot, witnessed the accident and stated "the airplane stalled, and cart wheeled to the left." He added that the engine ran smoothly and continuously all the way to ground contact. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 718 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rincon GA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: Rincon GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 45 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from SAV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.