Amateur-built SONEX accident near Mena, Arkansas, June 25, 2009
On June 25, 2009, a amateur-built SONEX, registered N604X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (descent) near Mena, Arkansas (Mena Intermountain Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2009
- Place
- Mena, Arkansas · Mena Intermountain Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONEX
- Registration
- N604X · no longer on the register · serial 604
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot established a descent from a cruise altitude of 8,500 feet for an approach and landing to refuel on the second leg of a cross-country flight. At an altitude of about 5,000 feet, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore power by adjusting the throttle, mixture, and magnetos. The engine lost power completely. The pilot then attempted a restart and was unsuccessful. A forced landing was made to an open field between two rows of houses. During the landing roll, the airplane's wings hit a stop sign and several trees. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the engine had compression, turned over by hand, and showed no outward signs of failure. No reason could be determined for the loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (descent) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 334 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 253 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F44 Athens TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: KMEZ Mena AR
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.