Amateur-built SONERAI-II accident near Jacksonville, Florida, April 27, 1991
On April 27, 1991 at about 4:42 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI-II, registered N4FD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Craig Municipal 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE CARBURETOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1991 · about 4:42 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Craig Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI-II
- Registration
- N4FD · no longer on the register · serial 00267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED ENG DID NOT SOUND AS IF IT WAS PRODUCING FULL POWER ON TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG QUIT. AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON AN ALLEY THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A RIGHT SLIP. THE ACFT THEN BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, TRAVELED 80 FEET, COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE, AND CAME TO REST. AFTER THE ACCIDENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL LEAKED FROM THE RUPTURED FUEL TANK AND LINES. EXAM OF THE ENG AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS, PISTONS, AND CYLINDERS HAD EXCESSIVE BLACK SOOT DEPOSITS. THE CARB IDLE ADJUSTING SCREW WAS STRIPPED AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL SCREW HAD RECENT TOOLING MARKS ON IT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING WITH A RICH FUEL MIXTURE AND THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST IT TO THE PROPER SETTING.
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: 575 hours in all; 84 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1860 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from CRG, 1 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 N4FD 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.