Amateur-built SONERAI II STRETCH accident near De Leon Springs, Florida, November 1, 2013
On November 1, 2013 at about 2:20 pm local time, a 2009 amateur-built SONERAI II STRETCH, registered N1927B, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near De Leon Springs, Florida. 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2013 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- De Leon Springs, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II STRETCH, built 2009
- Registration
- N1927B · registry record · serial 071604-0693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, about 40 minutes into the local flight, the engine lost total power. He was unable to restart the engine, so he conducted a forced landing. The airplane collided with trees and terrain and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that he began the flight with 9 gallons of fuel on board and used about 3 gallons during the flight. Although only evidence of residual fuel was found in the fuel system, the impact breached the fuel system, and rain was present at the wreckage site after the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the engine power loss could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Flight time: 333 hours in all; 115 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 98 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 9, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180 (piston); 98 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DED Deland FL at 1:30 pm
- Destination: DED Deland FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from DED, 5 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.