Rans S-12S | N912RS

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to be Pilot Error, in that the pilot handled the aircraft aggressively while in flight for a ground based photo shoot, and did allow the aircraft to enter high G banked flight at an angle of attack which exceeded the maximum allowed. The pilot flew the aircraft at a bank greater than 30 degrees, at a speed well below DMMS, and at an altitude below 2500 AGL. The aircraft stalled and spun at a very low altitude, not allowing time for the spin recovery to be efective.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and become conditioned to honoring the AQP minimum standards for GA flight: The DTSB recommends that below 2500 feet AGL, aircraft are not banked more than 30 degrees angle of bank, nor flown less than DMMS at any time.