Amateur-built Sonex 2180 accident near Rockford, Illinois, February 27, 2006
On February 27, 2006 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Sonex 2180, registered N514KP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Illinois. 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 loss of engine power due to the restricted movement of the throttle cable during cruise flight. A factor in the accident was the trees contacted during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2006 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sonex 2180
- Registration
- N514KP · registry record · serial 514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing. The pilot reported the throttle stuck during cruise flight. The pilot attempted to get the sticking throttle to release and the throttle stuck in idle position. The kit manufacturer's examination of the throttle cable and carburetor concluded: "The throttle cable was not supported/attached to anything from the firewall to the cockpit control knob. There was a large amount of flex in the cable when the control knob was pushed when resistance was applied to the Carb End of the cable. The only anchor on the throttle cable was a "through the firewall" clamp. ... The AeroCarb was disassembled. ... Nothing internally was found that would cause it to stick."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 742 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 667 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Vee 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C77 Poplar Grove IL at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from RFD, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.