Amateur-built SONERAI IIL accident near Prescott, Arizona, July 26, 1985
On July 26, 1985 at about 12:43 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI IIL, registered N4422P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1985 · about 12:43 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI IIL SONERAI II
- Registration
- N4422P · no longer on the register · serial 924L
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPTD THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF OFF ROLL, HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE TO THE CONTROL STICK WHEN THE ACFT REACHED 60 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE CLIMB AT A STEEP ANGLE, STALLED AND CRASHED ON TO THE RWY. THIS WAS THE INITIAL FLIGHT FOR THIS HOMEBUILT ACFT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 377 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 336 as pilot in command; 127 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1985; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,618 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from PRC
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.
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.