Rans, Inc. S-14 accident near Pasco, Washington, June 6, 2003
On June 6, 2003 at about 4:00 am local time, a Rans, Inc. S-14, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered NONE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pasco, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. A physical impairment due to alcohol was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2003 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Pasco, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans, Inc. S-14, amateur-built
- Registration
- NONE · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness reported that he observed four small aircraft flying in the area. Three of the aircraft departed to the east, while the fourth remained in the area conducting aerial maneuvers between 50 and 100 feet above ground level. The witness stated that the maneuvers consisted of hard banking turns, steep climbs and descents. The aircraft then pulled up sharply, banked steeply and descended rapidly. The witness stated that it appeared that the pilot tried to pull out of the dive before he lost sight of the aircraft behind terrain. On site documentation of the wreckage noted that the aircraft collided with the flat terrain in a nose low and slight right wing low attitude. Flight control continuity was established throughout the system. Toxicological analysis revealed ethanol in blood (171 mg/dL), urine (363 mg/dL), and vitreous (231 mg/dL)specimens from the pilot.
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: 400 hours in all
- Last flight review: March 21, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 178 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 775 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA at 3:15 am
- Destination: Local
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from PSC, 12 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 NONE the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA03LA095.