On 20 Aug 2018, a Rans S14 (registration N140JL) was involved in an aviation accident near Brownsville, OR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Rans S14 airplane, N140JL, was substantially damaged and the pilot seriously injured when it stalled during a steep left turn and impacted terrain near Brownsville, Oregon on August 20, 2018.
Accident Details
On August 20, 2018, at about 1640 Pacific daylight time, a Rans S14 airplane, registration N140JL, sustained substantial damage in an accident near Brownsville, Oregon. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that he had planned to overfly and photograph the location of a recent concert venue. Upon arrival over the venue, he descended to about 600 feet above ground level and decelerated to approximately 60 miles per hour before entering a steep left turn. During the turn, the pilot felt the airplane stall. He attempted to recover as the airplane impacted the ground and struck a fence. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal flight.