Amateur-built Sonerai II Lts accident near Juneau, Wisconsin, July 19, 2002
On July 19, 2002 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Sonerai II Lts, registered N9B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Juneau, Wisconsin (Dodge County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering to return to the airport. A reduction in handling quality and the distraction due to the open canopy were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2002 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Juneau, Wisconsin · Dodge County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sonerai II Lts
- Registration
- N9B · registry record · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The unlatched canopy opened during takeoff roll. While returning to the airport, the pilot briefly lost control (stalled) and, although control was regained, the aircraft lost sufficient altitude and descended into terrain. Shortly after impact, the aircraft hit a fence row and was substantially damaged. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 139 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 16, 2002; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UNU Juneau WI at 10:30 am
- Destination: UNU Juneau WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 5,069 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from UNU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI02CA203.