Amateur-built Sonex accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, June 27, 2010
On June 27, 2010 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Sonex, registered N363SX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Punta Gorda, Florida (Charlotte County Airport). 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 improper flare, resulting in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2010 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Charlotte County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Sonex
- Registration
- N363SX · registry record · serial 363
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he entered the traffic pattern for landing, completed all required checklist items, and made a visual approach to the grass area adjacent to the runway. He flared the airplane high and the airplane touched down hard. As a result of the hard landing, the left main landing gear separated and the airplane nosed over inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 67 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 25, 2009
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 10, 2009; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Great Plains 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDD Punta Gorda FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: PDD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,688 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PGD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.