Amateur-built SONERAI II accident near Sedgwick, Kansas, February 2, 1986
On February 2, 1986 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II, registered N23BK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sedgwick, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1986 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sedgwick, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II
- Registration
- N23BK · registry record · serial 1067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT NOTICED ENG OIL ON THE COCKPIT CANOPY DURING THE LOCAL FLT AND DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. THE LANDING WAS MADE IN A WHEAT FIELD WHERE THE ACFT CONTACTED A FENCE. THE NOSE GEAR THEN COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENG DISCLOSED AN OIL LEAK AT THE OIL RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION ON TOP OF THE ENG. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE ENG STILL CONTAINED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF OIL. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.
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: 332 hours in all; 156 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1985; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1834CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWK Newton KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 079° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC86FCQ01.