Krugler SONERAI II accident near Belleville, MI
On November 22, 1995, a Krugler SONERAI II (airplane) was involved in an accident near Belleville, MI. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 22, 1995
- Place
- Belleville, MI
- Aircraft
- Krugler SONERAI II · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.200°N, 83.479°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04832
NTSB summary
On November 22, 1995, at 1149 eastern standard time (est), a Sonerai II, N36AL, owned and piloted by an instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the ground shortly after takeoff. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Willow Run Airport, Belleville, Michigan, at 1149 est. This was the maiden flight for the experimental Sonerai II LTS. The pilot had been constructing the airplane for the previous 12-13 years. According to eyewitness statements, the airplane appeared to be doing fine as it taxied along the runway, but as it broke ground, it was immediately obvious that the pilot had lost control of the airplane. On liftoff, the airplane pitched up followed by a series of oscillations, up and down dips at approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground. The airplane performed an 180 degree turn to the left, followed by a nosedive into a spin and impacted a wooded area .5 miles south of the airport. The witnesses said it appeared to be a weight and balance problem. The builder/pilot modified the airframe approximately 12 inches longer to accommodate a Continental O-200-A accessory section (the engine weighted 200.5 pounds w/o starter/prop), with an additional tail weight of 4.5 pounds added after completing the weight and balance. The pilot/builder airframe record's indicate that he calculated various weight and balance extremes that indicated all should be within the CG flight envelope. The pilot
Probable cause
a loss of aircraft control due to the owner/builder's improper loading of the aircraft.
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Browse: Michigan
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
