Rans S-12 accident near Marana, Arizona, April 16, 2011
On April 16, 2011 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Rans S-12, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N107JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Marana, Arizona (Pinal Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to conduct an adequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of engine coolant during climb due to an unsecured tank cap. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use available engine power to ensure a landing on an appropriate surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2011 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Pinal Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-12 S, amateur-built · all S-12s on the register
- Registration
- N107JL · registry record · serial 05020945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before the flight, the sport pilot fueled the experimental, amateur-built, light-sport airplane and conducted a preflight inspection without the aid of a checklist. He and his passenger then departed for a destination about 110 miles away. About 14 minutes after takeoff, during the climb, the passenger smelled engine coolant, and the pilot observed excessively high engine oil and coolant temperature indications. He reduced engine rpm and decided to conduct a precautionary landing at a non-towered airport south of his current position. When the airplane was north of the runway threshold, he realized that he would not reach the runway and aimed instead for the airport ramp. He then realized he would not reach the ramp and intentionally allowed the airplane to stall onto the flat earthen floor of a water catchment basin. The pilot did not use available engine power during the descent to ensure a landing on an appropriate surface, even though the engine remained running until he shut it down after impact. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine coolant had drained in flight due to an unsecured system cap. The pilot stated that he did not check the coolant system during his preflight inspection.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Coolant › Not inspected
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 308 hours in all; 252 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 243 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 29, 2009
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 437 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 27, 2010; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AZ8 Avra Valley AZ at 2:53 pm
- Destination: 58AZ Young AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,849 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TUS, 30 miles away
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.