Amateur-built RANS S-12 AIRAILE N6202N accident near Benton, Tennessee

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin.

NTSB analysis

The sport pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane was the last to takeoff in a group of three airplanes. After takeoff, the airplane entered a steep climb, banked sharply left, and then descended rapidly in a manner consistent with an aerodynamic stall and spin. Examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that, during the initial climb, the pilot failed to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall/spin. Although the pilot had coronary artery disease, and he was taking clozapine, a drug that can cause seizures or cardiac arrest, it could not be determined whether the pilot was impaired or incapacitated at the time of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA16LA068 for the full record.