Amateur-built SORRELL SNS-7 accident near Alexandria, Minnesota, August 9, 1992
On August 9, 1992 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SORRELL SNS-7, registered N226HB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexandria, Minnesota (Chandler 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1992 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Minnesota · Chandler Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SORRELL SNS-7 SORRELL SN
- Registration
- N226HB · registry record · serial 226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED '...DURING THE ROLLOUT WITH THE TAILWHEEL ON THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND TURNED TO THE RIGHT.' THE AIRCRAFT TURNED ABOUT 270 DEGREES BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE TURN. THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY 13. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE OUT OF 340 DEGREES AT 7 TO 8 KNOTS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-EXISTING MECHANICAL ANOMALY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,775 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 12,857 as pilot in command; 2,989 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,983 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,180 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from AXN, 1 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.