Amateur-built SONEX accident near Pecatonica, Illinois, December 24, 2020
On December 24, 2020 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built SONEX, registered N610DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Pecatonica, Illinois (Pecatonica 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, and the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following the loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2020 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pecatonica, Illinois · Pecatonica · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONEX, built 2010
- Registration
- N610DJ · registry record · serial 0959
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot did not provide a statement regarding the accident. Information from the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for landing, the pilot reduced engine power and the engine lost total power. The airplane continued in a left turn toward the runway while the pilot attempted to restart the engine. The airplane entered a stall/spin and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following a loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain.
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 approach (VFR pattern base)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Unknown or undetermined during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aerovee 2180; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNV Danville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KRFD, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRFD 241754Z 29014G21KT 8SM -SN SCT025 BKN036 OVC042 M09/M17 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP117 P0000 60000 T10891172 11078 21111 51007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 21, 2022. 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 | Request for Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - 6120 Form Request | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum - History of Flight | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Log | 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.