Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Belleville, Michigan, November 22, 1995
On November 22, 1995 at about 4:49 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N36AL, was destroyed in an accident near Belleville, Michigan (Willow Run 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
a loss of aircraft control due to the owner/builder's improper loading of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1995 · about 4:49 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Michigan · Willow Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N36AL · registry record · serial 0056LTS
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
It was the maiden flight for this modified experimental airplane after 12-13 years of construction. Witnesses reported that shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway it was out of control. They also said it appeared to be a weight and balance problem. The airplanes CG was calculated to be 7.4 inches aft of the leading edge of the wing. The CG range for this airplane is 8 to 16 inches aft of the leading edge.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,055 hours in all; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 6, 1995; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YIP at 4:49 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 6,511 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from YIP
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.