Piper PA-16 and amateur-built SONERAI 2L accident near Williamson, Georgia, June 6, 1992
On June 6, 1992 at about 5:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-16 (N6810K) and amateur-built SONERAI 2L (N46RB), were involved in the same accident near Williamson, Georgia (Peach State Airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N46RB (THE SONERAI) TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF RUNWAY EDGE MARKINGS AT THIS AIRPORT.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N46RB (THE SONERAI) TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF RUNWAY EDGE MARKINGS AT THIS AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1992 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Williamson, Georgia · Peach State Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-16 · all PA-16s on the register
- Registration
- N6810K · no longer on the register · serial 16-640
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built SONERAI 2L
- Registration
- N46RB · registry record · serial 702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-16 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N46RB, A SONERAI 2L, WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 31 AT THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. N6810K, A PIPER PA-16 WAS NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY, TAXIING TOWARD THE TAKEOFF AREA FOR RUNWAY 31. SEVERAL WITNESSES AND THE PILOT OF N6810K REPORTED THAT THE SONERAI DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAXIING PIPER. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED OUTSIDE THE SURVEYED LIMITS OF THE RUNWAY, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO VISUAL MARKERS TO DELINEATE THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built SONERAI 2L final · quoted from the NTSB record
N46RB, A SONERAI 2L, WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL ON RUNWAY 31 AT THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. N6810K, A PIPER PA-16, WAS NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY, TAXIING TOWARD THE TAKEOFF AREA FOR RUNWAY 31. SEVERAL WITNESSES AND THE PILOT OF N6810K REPORTED THAT THE SONERAI DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAXIING PIPER. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED OUTSIDE THE SURVEYED LIMITS OF THE RUNWAY, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO VISUAL MARKERS TO DELINEATE THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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 for the Piper PA-16 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,500 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 17,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,907 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1992; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from ATL, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built SONERAI 2L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 581 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1992; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 925 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1700CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,100 ft by 100 ft
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.