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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 1, 1992 · Rans S-9 · N5301A

Mason, MI

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 1, 1992
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Mason, MI
Aircraft
Rans S-9
Tail Number
N5301A
Operator
Dwain R Chatterton
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI92DEC02

The homebuilt airplane was observed performing a low pass to the runway. At the conclusion of the low pass, the airplane began a climbing left turn. As the airplane gained altitude it began to slow down according to witnesses. At an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 feet above the ground the airplane rolled to the right, performing a half turn spin before colliding with the ground. The on scene investigation revealed no mechanical discrepancies with the airframe or power plant. The airplane's engine rotated opposite the normal U.S. certified airplane engines. During the investigation it was revealed the pilot did not have experience in the airplane. An eye witness stated he had spoken with the pilot before the accident flight and advised him to obtain some dual instruction before flying the airplane solo; or at least do some touch and go's before going anywhere in the airplane. The pilot's logbook revealed he had no time logged in the make and model airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S OVER-CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE HE WAS FLYING, AND THE FACT THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER AIRSPEED.

Full Narrative

THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED PERFORMING A LOW PASS TO THE RUNWAY. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LOW PASS, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN. AS THE AIRPLANE GAINED ALTITUDE IT BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 300 TO 400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, PERFORMING A HALF TURN SPIN BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRFRAME OR POWER PLANT. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE ROTATED OPPOSITE THE NORMAL U.S. CERTIFIED AIRPLANE ENGINES. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS REVEALED THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRPLANE. AN EYE WITNESS STATED HE HAD SPOKEN WITH THE PILOT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND ADVISED HIM TO OBTAIN SOME DUAL INSTRUCTION BEFORE FLYING THE AIRPLANE SOLO; OR AT LEAST DO SOME TOUCH AND GO'S BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE IN THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK REVEALED HE HAD NO TIME LOGGED IN THE MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRans S-9
Tail NumberN5301A
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDwain R Chatterton
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 47
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data