Amateur-built RANS S9 accident near Taunton, Massachusetts, May 26, 1998
On May 26, 1998 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built RANS S9, registered N1189Z, was destroyed in an accident near Taunton, Massachusetts (Taunton airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 pilot's operation of the aircraft in an unapproved configuration contrary to procedures resulting in diminished aircraft control, and his failure to maintain control of the aircraft resulting in a stall/spin event. Contributing factors were the non-installation of the canopy and engine cowling during flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1998 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Taunton, Massachusetts · Taunton
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S9
- Registration
- N1189Z · no longer on the register · serial 1291103
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had been making adjustments to the carburetors on the 2 cycle, non-certificated engine. He was flying the homebuilt airplane without the engine cowling or canopy in place. While circling near the airport, the airplane was observed to enter a spin and it disappeared from view in a near vertical nose down attitude. No evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found with the airplane or engine. The Chief Engineer for the kit manufacturer reported, '...The flying qualities would have been altered due to the large increase in drag and disruption of the airflow over the fuselage and tail surfaces. The aircraft stall and spin characteristics could have been dramatically changed from previously tested configurations. The assembly manual and flight operations manuals clearly indicate that the cowl and canopy should be in place before flying the aircraft and that operation of the aircraft in any other configuration is not approved.'
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: 900 hours in all; 11 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1997; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 670 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TAN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from TAN, 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.
Other NTSB records under N1189Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.