Sonex Aircraft WAIEX accident near Maxwell, CA
On August 9, 2022, a Sonex Aircraft WAIEX (airplane) was involved in an accident near Maxwell, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 9, 2022
- Place
- Maxwell, CA
- Aircraft
- Sonex Aircraft WAIEX · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.379°N, 122.227°W
- NTSB ID
- 20220809105703
Official records · CEN22FA375
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn August 9, 2022, about 1106 Pacific daylight time, a Sonex Aircraft Waiex airplane, N51YX, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Maxwell, California. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the family members of the pilot, the purpose of the flight was personal and the exact route of the flight was unknown. A review of automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the experimental airplane departed runway 13 at the Colusa County Airport (O08), Colusa, California. The airplane traveled to the north of Colusa and then traveled to the west. The airplane crossed Highway I-5, then traveled to the north of Maxwell, California, where the ADS-B data terminated in a remote area populated with fields used for agricultural work. The airplane came to rest nose down, in a flat dirt field. The wreckage, which was destroyed, sustained fire damage. The airplane was equipped with a Dynon FlightDEK-D180 unit. The unit recorded about 22 minutes of data that began when the engine was started. A review of the data showed that shortly before the data ended, the airplane went from a straight and level attitude to a nose down attitude. A review of the various experimental engine parameters recorded did not show any signatures consistent with a loss of engine power. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONAccording to the family members of the pilot, the pilot had been flying airplanes for over 30 years, with various breaks in between. The pilot never report
Probable cause
A loss of control in flight for undetermined reasons that resulted in an impact with terrain.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
