Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Macon, Georgia, November 2, 1986
On November 2, 1986 at about 9:42 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N23DK, was destroyed in an accident near Macon, Georgia (Herbert Smart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1986 · about 9:42 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, Georgia · Herbert Smart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N23DK · registry record · serial 494
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CLIMBOUT, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL WHILE TURNING TO A LEFT CROSSWIND. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AFTER COLLIDING WITH TWO TREES. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT AND LOCAL RESIDENTS WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST EXITING DUE TO FIRE AND HIGH TEMP. THE AIRCRAFT EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE AN MATERIAL FAILURES. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE DURING CLIMBOUT FOLLOWED BY A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE PRIOR TO IMPACT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 925 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen VWYR2321 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,696 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from MCN, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.