Amateur-built SONERAI II/EV accident near Huntley, Illinois, November 26, 1989
On November 26, 1989 at about 4:40 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II/EV, registered N4984H, was destroyed in an accident near Huntley, Illinois (Reid Rla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING A TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND IMPACT WITH TERRAIN, LACK OF RECENT TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 1989 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Huntley, Illinois · Reid Rla
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II/EV SONERAI II
- Registration
- N4984H · registry record · serial 507
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 61 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1989; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Monnett EV2/1850 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from RFD, 31 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.