Thompson Bruce D SONERAI II accident near Pulaski, TN
On July 16, 2013, a Thompson Bruce D SONERAI II (airplane) was involved in an accident near Pulaski, TN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 16, 2013
- Place
- Pulaski, TN
- Aircraft
- Thompson Bruce D SONERAI II · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.160°N, 87.067°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130716X00902
Official records · ERA13LA320
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On July 16, 2013, about 0805 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Thompson Sonerai II, N788T, was destroyed during collision with terrain and a post-crash fire following an uncontrolled descent after takeoff from Abernathy Field Airport (GZS), Pulaski, Tennessee. The certificated private pilot/owner was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Witnesses reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that they watched as the airplane came to a stop on Runway 34, with the propeller stopped, after having taxied out from the parking area. They watched the pilot deplane, walk to the front of the airplane, restart the engine, then climb back into the cockpit. According to the witnesses, the airplane began its takeoff roll from that point, where approximately 2,500 feet of the 5,310-foot-long runway remained. The airplane departed downwind, and used the entire up-sloping runway that remained before it rotated "steeply." The airplane travelled 2,900 feet beyond the departure end of the runway before it descended "vertically," impacted a state highway in a nose-down attitude, and subsequently caught fire. A witness who was travelling on the state highway noticed the airplane because it was lower than typical departing traffic. Just prior to the airplane crossing over the roadway, it "pulled straight up…like a crop duster…about 70 –75-degree angle" before it rolled to the left and descended st
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a near-vertical climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent collision with terrain.
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Browse: Tennessee
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
