Amateur-built Sonerai IIL accident near Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, March 17, 2007
On March 17, 2007 at about 7:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Sonerai IIL, registered N5200C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin (Fort Atkinson Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed following a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A low altitude and an inadvertent stall were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2007 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin · Fort Atkinson Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sonerai IIL
- Registration
- N5200C · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that shortly after take off, about 500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. While maneuvering to a field for an off airport forced landing, the airplane stalled. On-scene examination of the airplane revealed that there was usable fuel aboard and no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. The rear seat, which was occupied by the pilot, had a lap belt and no shoulder harness installed. The front seat, which was occupied by the pilot's son, did not have a lap belt nor did it have a shoulder harness. The severity of the injuries to the passenger could be attributed to the lack of installed lap belt and shoulder harness.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,240 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 61C Fort Atkinson WI at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 44C Beloit WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from RYV, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.