Amateur-built Sonex accident near Lodi, Wisconsin, December 15, 2018
On December 15, 2018 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built Sonex, registered N393SX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Lodi, Wisconsin (Lodi Lakeland Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway during final approach, which resulted in impact with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 15, 2018 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lodi, Wisconsin · Lodi Lakeland Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sonex B, built 2014
- Registration
- N393SX · no longer on the register · serial 393
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot was conducting a personal, local flight when the airplane's left wingtip impacted a tree while on final approach to the runway. The pilot stated that, during final approach, he was fixated on maintaining the proper landing airspeed and that he inadvertently allowed the airplane to drift north of the final approach course into the tree. The airplane then spun around the tree and descended nose down to ground impact. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 187.6 hours in all; 28 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 26, 2017
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 14, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ulpower Aero Engines UL260IS (piston); 6 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9WN5 Lodi WI at 7:40 pm
- Destination: 9WN5 Lodi WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,875 ft by 105 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from C29, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 11, 2019. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Voicemail - Leroy Brandt | 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.
Other NTSB records under N393SX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.