Rans COYOTE II S6 accident near Lincoln, California, June 15, 2010
On June 15, 2010 at about 3:18 am local time, a Rans COYOTE II S6, registered N1901C, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lincoln, California (Lincoln Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while in a turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the increased drag on the airplane with the doors removed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2010 · about 3:18 am local time
- Place
- Lincoln, California · Lincoln Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans COYOTE II S6
- Registration
- N1901C · no longer on the register · serial HWM001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot removed the doors of his two-seat, 65-horsepower airplane the day before the accident and flew it successfully. The aircraft documentation noted that with the doors removed the airplane’s climb and cruise performance would be reduced. On the day of the accident, the pilot had a passenger with him and the doors of the airplane were still off. A witness reported that the airplane was returning to the airport at 500 feet and made a downwind entry for the runway. There was one airplane in the traffic pattern ahead of the accident airplane. The accident airplane then entered a 35- to 40-degree angle-of-bank left-hand turn, presumably to increase the spacing between aircraft. After the airplane had completed about 180 degrees of turn, it appeared to be traveling slower than normal; the left wing dipped and the airplane entered a descending spiral. The airplane rotated 360 degrees while descending vertically and impacted terrain. During a postaccident examination of the airplane, flight control continuity was confirmed and no preimpact mechanical anomalies were noted.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 378 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 229 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,041 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLHM Lincoln CA at 2:30 am
- Destination: KLHM Lincoln CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:12 am from KLHM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.