Rans S14 accident near Brownsville, Oregon, August 20, 2018
On August 20, 2018 at about 11:40 pm local time, a 1992 Rans S14, registered N140JL, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Brownsville, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2018 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Brownsville, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rans S14, built 1992 · all S14s on the register
- Registration
- N140JL · registry record · serial 0392019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot was circling about 600 ft above ground level and taking photographs of a concert venue. He stated that he slowed the airplane to about 60 mph before entering a steep left turn. During the turn, the airplane stalled and subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 384.3 in this make and model; 4.5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 410 as pilot in command; 104 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 627.9 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 26, 2018; 626 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 380 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Harrisburg OR at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Harrisburg OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from KEUG, 19 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.
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 WPR18TA238.