Rans S-17 accident near Fontana, California, May 4, 2013
On May 4, 2013 at about 6:09 pm local time, a Rans S-17, registered N6171R, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Fontana, California (Brackett Field). 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
A loss of engine power due to improper construction and inadequate maintenance of the fuel system and engine. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s inadvertent contact with an unseen guy wire during the landing flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2013 · about 6:09 pm local time
- Place
- Fontana, California · Brackett Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S-17
- Registration
- N6171R · no longer on the register · serial 0800015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was planning to purchase the experimental, light sport airplane from a colleague and was relocating it to his home airport about 40 miles away. He departed, climbed the airplane to 5,500 ft, and flew uneventfully until he was about 20 miles from his destination, at which point, the engine began to lose power, and the airplane began to lose altitude. Despite the pilot's troubleshooting and corrective-action efforts, the engine rpm continued to decrease, and the pilot selected an off-airport landing location on an open construction site. Just before touchdown, the airplane struck an unseen guy wire, and the airplane then descended vertically to the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed multiple fuel system and engine-related deficiencies that were indicative of both improper construction and inadequate maintenance. Although the specific reason for the engine power loss could not be determined, the observed deficiencies, either alone or in combination, could have caused the power loss.
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 engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Inadequate inspection
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Modification/alteration › Not specified
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,232 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,460 as pilot in command; 867 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 15, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CL13 Brian Ranch CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: KPOC La Verne CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from KSBD, 9 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.