Amateur-built SONERAI 2 accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky, June 30, 2026
On June 30, 2026 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 2025 amateur-built SONERAI 2, registered N1406, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Cynthiana, Kentucky (Cynthiana-Harrison County Airp 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2026 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cynthiana, Kentucky · Cynthiana-Harrison County Airp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI 2, built 2025
- Registration
- N1406 · registry record · serial 01627LT
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 30, 2026, at about 1030 eastern daylight time, an experimental Sonerai 2 airplane, N1406, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform local air work in the traffic pattern. There were no anomalies noted during the preflight inspection, engine run-up, or subsequent takeoff. The airplane departed with 10 gallons of fuel. About 25 minutes into the flight, after completing two touch-and-go-landings, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while transitioning to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and performed a forced landing to a field west of the airport. During the landing roll, the landing gear separated and the fuselage impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Following the landing, the airplane’s lithium battery caught fire and consumed most of the fuselage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 6, 2025; 14.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 0I8 Cynthiana KY at 2:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 3,850 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from LEX, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLEX 301354Z 29007KT 10SM CLR 29/23 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP201 T02890233 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA254.