Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Cortland, Ohio, July 6, 2001
On July 6, 2001 at about 11:40 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N79TG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cortland, Ohio (Allen 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted take-off. A factor was the pilot's failure to obtain adequate take-off speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2001 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cortland, Ohio · Allen Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N79TG · no longer on the register · serial 00109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot prepared for his first flight in the airplane by making several taxi runs up and down the runway. On take-off, the airplane became airborne half-way down the 2,700 foot long turf runway, but would not accelerate. The pilot did not look at the airspeed indicator when the airplane rotated off the runway. However, once airborne he reported that the airspeed indicator read about 60 knots, and that the manufacturer's recommended speed on climb-out was 75 knots. The pilot felt that he would not clear the 60 foot trees located off the end of the runway, and elected to abort the take-off. A videotape of the accident revealed that on take-off, when the airplane became airborne it flew just above the runway surface. It then bounced once on the main wheels, pitched up and began to climb. The airplane obtained a height of about 10-15 feet above the ground before it descended and landed off to the right side of the runway. Once on the ground, the airplane maneuvered back onto the runway. However, the airplane again went off the right side of the runway into an area of high grass, collided with a tree stump and nosed over. The pilot reported that the winds were calm and there were no mechanical deficiencies.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,465 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,465 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 2, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,015.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1700CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Cortland OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from YNG, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N79TG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.