Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Ramona, California, December 28, 1995
On December 28, 1995, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N68676, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
an interruption of fuel flow to the engine due to a misrouted fuel vent line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1995
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N68676 · no longer on the register · serial 139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft had not flown over the past 2 years and was recently purchased by the owner. This was the first flight of the aircraft following a condition inspection to return it to service. The pilot reported that he took off following a detailed inspection of the aircraft and a prolonged ground run-up. At 200 feet over the runway's departure end, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot maneuvered the aircraft for a forced landing in an adjoining cattle pasture. The engine suddenly began to run at full power again, and the pilot turned the aircraft toward the runway. The engine began to surge, and the pilot then landed in the pasture. The aircraft encountering rough terrain and was damaged. The pilot said the engine symptoms led him to believe that there might have been a fuel flow problem. The aircraft was examined by FAA airworthiness inspectors who found that the fuel vent line was not routed in accordance with the aircraft plans.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,980 hours in all; 200 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command; 1,800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 84 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 14, 1995; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 925 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.