CEN15LA068

Factual narrative

On November 29, 2014, about 1230 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Rans S-14, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control while landing at the Kewanee Municipal Airport (EZI), Kewanee, Illinois. The sport pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed EZI about 1200 on a local flight. The airport manager reported that he saw the airplane flying at EZI, and that the pilot did a go-around after the first attempt to land on runway 19 (3,200 feet by 60 feet, asphalt). During the second attempt to land, he observed the airplane on final about 100 feet above ground level (agl); it was flying slowly with about a 1 to 2 degree nose up pitch. He reported that the airplane then dropped straight down while maintaining about a wings level attitude. The airplane was about 50 feet agl when he lost sight of it as it dropped below a hill. The airplane impacted a corn field about a 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 19. The pilot reported that he had recently obtained the pusher airplane, and the day of the accident was the first time he had flown it or any pusher-type airplane. On the day of the accident, he performed numerous taxi tests over a 3-hour period. On the last taxi run, he decided to takeoff and fly around the pattern. On the first approach to landing, he was too high so he performed a go-around. The pilot reported that during the next approach, the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level and was positioned to land. He reduced engine power and the airplane just "fell out of the sky." He reported that the engine was running normally when he reduced the power for landing. The airplane impacted the ground in a nearly flat attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The distance from the initial point of impact to the main wreckage was about 50 feet. The fuselage and cockpit exhibited downward crushing, but the wings exhibited no damage to the leading edge. The propeller blades exhibited damage to all three blades. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103 states that airplanes that have an empty weight that exceeds 254 pounds or more; have a fuel capacity that exceeds 5 U.S. gallons; are capable of more than 55 knots airspeed at full power in level flight; and have a power-off stall speed that exceeds 24 knots are not considered ultralight airplanes and must be registered. The specifications for a Rans S-14 indicated that the empty weight is 390 pounds; it is equipped with a 9-gallon fuel tank; its cruise speed is 90 mph, and it has a stall speed of 38 mph. The pilot reported that he had recently obtained the pusher-type airplane and that the accident flight was the first time he had flown it or any pusher-type airplane. He performed numerous taxi tests over a 3-hour period and then decided to take off and fly around the traffic pattern. On the first approach to landing, the airplane was too high, so he performed a go-around. The pilot reported that, during the next approach, as the airplane was about 100 ft above ground level and positioned to land, he reduced the engine power, and the airplane just "fell out of the sky." He reported that the engine was running normally when he reduced the power for landing. The airplane impacted the ground in a nearly flat attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F