Erickson SONERAI 2L accident near Algoma, Wisconsin, April 7, 1987
On April 7, 1987 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Erickson SONERAI 2L, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N131DE, was destroyed in an accident near Algoma, Wisconsin. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1987 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Algoma, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Erickson SONERAI 2L, amateur-built
- Registration
- N131DE · no longer on the register · serial 01312L
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED AT THE PROPELLER FLANGE AND THE PROPELLER DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FARM FIELD. HE WAS UNABLE TO FLARE SUCCESSFULLY AND LOST CONTROL DURING LANDING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,384 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,189 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 980 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180CC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MKE Milwaukee WI at 9:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 am from GRB, 32 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.