Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Wisc Rapids, Wisconsin, August 1, 1988
On August 1, 1988 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N79TG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wisc Rapids, Wisconsin (Alexander Field). 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
- August 1, 1988 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wisc Rapids, Wisconsin · Alexander Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N79TG · no longer on the register · serial 00109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 200' AGL. AN EMERG LNDG WAS MADE IN THE BEST AVAILABLE AREA, WHICH WAS A GOLF COURSE ON ROLLING TERRAIN. DRG THE LNDG ROLL, THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE ACFT WENT OVER A RIDGE WITH A STEEP DECLINING SLOPE BEYOND. AS THE ACFT WENT OVER THE RIDGE (DROP-OFF), IT BECAME AIRBORNE, THEN TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS DAMAGED WHERE THE TERRAIN BEGAN RISING AGAIN. THE ACFT HAD BEEN SVCD WITH AUTO FUEL. THE PLT BELIEVED THE ENG HAD LOST POWER DUE TO VAPOR LOCK. ACCORDING TO AC 91-33,AUTO FUEL IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VAPOR LOCK AT ELEVATED TEMPS. THE TEMP WAS 93 DEG. NO OTHER PART MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS EVIDENT.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 955 hours in all; 390 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 869 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 412 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 1988; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 935 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1700 EV (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,771 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from AUW, 40 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.
Other NTSB records under N79TG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.