Amateur-built RANS S-7S accident near Bryce Canyon, Utah, June 9, 2023
On June 9, 2023 at about 1:50 pm local time, a 2015 amateur-built RANS S-7S, registered N56QC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Bryce Canyon, Utah (Bryce Canyon 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 maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll and subsequent impact with terrain during go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2023 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bryce Canyon, Utah · Bryce Canyon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RANS S-7S, built 2015
- Registration
- N56QC · registry record · serial 0215610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while adjusting the aircraft's attitude for a 3-point tail-wheel landing, the aircraft bounced. Despite rudder and tail wheel inputs, the aircraft veered to the right side of the runway. The pilot elected to go around and applied full power. The airplane’s landing gear became entangled in nearby bushes and the airplane subsequently impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 262 hours in all; 262 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 262 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 2, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 318 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2023; 11.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 SERIES (piston); 328 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KUT9 Quillayute WA at 1:08 pm
- Destination: KBCE Bryce UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KBCE
Weather report (METAR): KBCE 091353Z AUTO 29004KT 10SM CLR 08/01 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP133 T00830006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.