Amateur-built SORRELL SNS 7 accident near Middletown, Ohio, October 24, 2018
On October 24, 2018 at about 2:15 pm local time, a amateur-built SORRELL SNS 7, registered N8053Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Middletown, Ohio (Middletown Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing rollout for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, which resulted in the right wing striking the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2018 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, Ohio · Middletown Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SORRELL SNS 7 No Series
- Registration
- N8053Q · registry record · serial 239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was receiving instruction in the experimental, tailwheel-equipped airplane. The flight instructor indicated they flew in the traffic pattern and then landed "normally." The pilot stated that, during the landing rollout, he applied the wheel brakes and the left brake "locked up." He attempted to keep the airplane straight, but it kept veering left. The flight instructor was unable to regain directional control after using corrective rudder control input; the airplane was not equipped with landing gear brakes at the flight instructor's seat position. The right main landing gear broke off when it hit a small hole, and the right wing struck the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane was not performed; thus, it could not be determined whether there was a mechanical malfunction of the brake system.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 20, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 183 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 12,500 as pilot in command; 12,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 16, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 47.1 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 276 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWO Middletown OH at 2:15 pm
- Destination: MWO Middletown OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,040 ft by 297 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from MWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 16, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Flight Instructor | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.