Stall / Spin · NTSB ERA12FA107
SHAW DOUGLAS WAYNE RANS S 7 — Somerville, TN
| Date | December 11, 2011 |
| Location | Somerville, TN |
| Aircraft | SHAW DOUGLAS WAYNE RANS S 7 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Aerodynamic stall/spin |
| Pilot age | 50 |
| Pilot total time | 230 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Other loss of consciousness-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Attain/maintain not possible - C
What happened
A witness reported that, during takeoff, the airplane became airborne about 300 feet down the turf runway. It then drifted right towards the trees, abruptly banked left, and oscillated about its roll axis. The airplane subsequently pitched up sharply to an angle of 45 degrees or more, followed by a stall and nose-down descent into the runway. According to the witness, the engine ran continuously during the impact sequence. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The sport pilot's autopsy report noted an acute rupture of a berry aneurysm, which most likely incapacitated him during the takeoff. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued more than 4 years before the accident; however, as a sport pilot, he was not required to hold a current medical certificate, and, additionally, a more recent similar medical examination would likely not have detected the aneurysm.