Amateur-built SONERAI 2L accident near Titusville, Florida, September 20, 2012
On September 20, 2012 at about 1:40 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI 2L, registered N127JS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Titusville, Florida (Artur Dunn Airpark 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 failure to attain the proper landing approach speed and touchdown point, which resulted in a runway excursion after touchdown and collision with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2012 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Artur Dunn Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI 2L
- Registration
- N127JS · no longer on the register · serial 064
- 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 flew a faster-than-normal approach due to his concerns about a possible fuel leak and a subsequent no-fuel situation, which resulted in the airplane landing long on the runway. The pilot stated that he ran off the right side of the runway when he realized he could not stop airplane on the runway. The airplane then collided with a ditch. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed that fuel was present; however, an accurate amount of remaining fuel could not be determined. The pilot's report of a fuel smell in the cockpit could not be confirmed because postaccident examination did not reveal any source of leakage or defects with the fuel system. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 143 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X21 Titusville FL
- Destination: X21 Titusville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 1:16 pm from Ktts, 6 miles away
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.