Amateur-built SONERAI IIL accident near Maricopa, Arizona, October 17, 1990
On October 17, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI IIL, registered N119JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona (Ak Chin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · Ak Chin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI IIL SONERAI II
- Registration
- N119JH · no longer on the register · serial 01576L
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A BUSH NEXT TO RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, HIT A CULVERT, CARTWHEELED, AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE PILOT STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF AFTER EXPERIENCING ENGINE POWER SURGES ON THE FIRST TRY. THE PILOT ALSO STATED HE HAD FILLED THE FUEL TANKS WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WHICH CONTAINED AN MTBE ADDITIVE. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen CONVERSION (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.