Amateur-built Sonex accident near Metropolis, Illinois, June 7, 2008
On June 7, 2008 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Sonex, registered N184L, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Metropolis, 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 for undermined reasons and the low altitude at the time of engine power loss while turning. An additional cause was the proper touchdown point not attained by the pilot, A contributing factor was the runway lights.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2008 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Metropolis, 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
- Registration
- N184L · registry record · serial 928
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane was arriving at the destination airport when the engine hesitated during final approach. The airplane had about 2 gallons of auto gas aboard upon landing. The airplane landed without further incident and the pilot reportedly refueled with 100 low lead aviation fuel. Prior to departing the destination airport, the pilot performed a preflight inspection of the fuel and airplane and no fuel contamination was found and no anomalies with the engine were noted. The airplane then departed, and while in a crosswind turn about 500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine speed decreased to "almost" idle. The pilot was able to obtain a limited increase in engine speed by moving the throttle control back and forth. The pilot flew the airplane over the airport about 400 feet agl and performed a steep turn abeam the approach end of runway 18 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) to intercept the final approach. During the turn to final, the engine lost power, and the airplane touched down short of runway 18, rolled onto the runway, and impacted runway lights. Both wings were dented with rib damage to at least the right wing. The pilot was uninjured.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kindig AeroVee 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M30 Metropolis IL
- Destination: M30
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.