Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Kingman, Arizona, November 16, 1997
On November 16, 1997 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N27KF, was destroyed in an accident near Kingman, Arizona (Triangle Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The complete loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the rough nature of the landing site terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1997 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kingman, Arizona · Triangle Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N27KF · no longer on the register · serial 970306
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was part of a flight of three which flew into the airport earlier in the day. After visiting with friends in the nearby trailer park, the three aircraft were departing for the return to Las Vegas. The accident aircraft was the middle one of the three in the takeoff sequence. The pilot of the last aircraft reported that accident aircraft was in the takeoff initial climb when it appeared to loose power and enter a descent toward the desert. The aircraft touched down and then nosed over in the dirt. The accident site, which is located about 1 mile northwest of the airport, is predominantly level, although several small washes traverse the area in a direction perpendicular to the aircraft's direction of travel. The main landing gear was found to have contacted the northern lip of a wash and nosed over. The airframe and engine were examined following recovery of the wreckage. Control system continuity was established. The fuel selector valve was found in the off position. An estimated 12 gallons of automotive fuel was in the single fuselage fuel tank. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified during a complete disassembly of the engine, magnetos, and carburetor, or in the fuel system 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,180 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 75 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1997; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A75-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AZ50 Triangle Airpor AZ at 6:20 pm
- Destination: VGT Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from IGM, 38 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.
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.