Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, April 28, 1985
On April 28, 1985, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N922GG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah (Salt Lake City Muni. #2 airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 28, 1985
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · Salt Lake City Muni. #2 · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N922GG · registry record · serial 922
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING SHORT OF THE RWY FOLLOWING A LOSS OF PWR. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE NOTICED A RISE IN THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE. HE ATTEMPTED A LANDING AND OVERSHOT THE RWY. DURING THE PLT'S SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT, ENG PWR WAS LOST AND THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT ATTRIBUTED THE HIGH CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE AND LOSS OF PWR TO IMPROPER ENG COWL BAFFLING. THE PLT HAD JUST COMPLETED BUILDING THE ACFT AND THIS WAS IT'S FIRST FLIGHT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1984; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from SLC, 10 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.