Rans S-12 XL AIRAILE accident near Marana, Arizona, July 24, 2009
On July 24, 2009 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Rans S-12 XL AIRAILE, registered N350KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Marana, Arizona (The Ultralight Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2009 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · The Ultralight Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-12 XL AIRAILE · all S-12 XL AIRAILEs on the register
- Registration
- N350KB · no longer on the register · serial 05970801
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The light sport aircraft student pilot was practicing short field takeoff and landings in the experimental light sport airplane. He reported that during the initial climb out phase of the two prior takeoffs, the airplane yawed to the left, and that he countered this motion by lowering the airplane's nose. On the third takeoff attempt, he applied full engine power during the ground roll; the airplane rotated, and immediately yawed to the left towards the adjacent hangars. The pilot attempted to turn the airplane away from the hangars but the left wing dropped and the airplane collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that the winds were calm, and there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane’s engine or flight control systems.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: sport pilot, student
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 116 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 2009; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AZ8 Marana AZ at 1:35 pm
- Destination: 4AZ8 Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 1,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from RYN, 13 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.