SAN JOSE, CA, USA
N821DR
RANS S-10 SAKOTA
ABOUT ONE MINUTE AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 TO 200 FEET, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE CONTROL TOWER LOCAL CONTROLLER TO REPORT HE WAS HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNING TO LAND. THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PILOT TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY. WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT ENTERED A 'TIGHT' RIGHT TURN AND THEN ENTERED A STALL/SPIN. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXPLODED. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, DETERMINED ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE INTACT, OPERABLE, AND WORKING CORRECTLY. DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
1) THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASON(S), AND, 2) THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING AIRSPEED ABOVE THE POWER OFF STALL SPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO THE RUNWAY RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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