Amateur-built Rans S-12 N7138K accident near Festus, Missouri

Probable cause

The certified flight instructor’s delayed remedial action as the airplane neared an aerodynamic stall/spin. Contributing to the accident was that the student pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during the go-around attempt.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot had recently purchased the airplane and was receiving flight instruction toward a sport-pilot license. Neither the student pilot nor his instructor had flown the airplane before the accident flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that the airplane was too high on final approach in order to land on the first third of the runway and that he told the student pilot to perform a go-around while the airplane was about 50 feet above the runway. The student pilot applied maximum engine power, and the airplane entered a steep left climbing turn. The student pilot overcorrected and the airplane subsequently entered a steep right turn. The CFI reported that the airplane was approaching an imminent aerodynamic stall/spin when he assumed control. The airplane collided with trees during the subsequent stall/spin recovery. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He said that the accident could have been prevented had he assumed direct control of the airplane sooner instead of providing verbal corrective actions to the student pilot.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN12LA102 for the full record.