Amateur-built SONERAI II LTS accident near Suffolk, Virginia, February 14, 1998
On February 14, 1998 at about 4:05 pm local time, a amateur-built SONERAI II LTS, registered N426AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Suffolk, Virginia (Suffolk Municipal 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the initial takeoff climb. Factors related to the accident were habit interference, the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 1998 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Suffolk, Virginia · Suffolk Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI II LTS SONERAI II
- Registration
- N426AG · registry record · serial 061892263
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taking off on his first flight in the homebuilt airplane. Upon liftoff, the airplane began a turn to the right. The pilot added right rudder and the airplane turned further right. To counteract the right turn, the pilot added left aileron. The airplane collided with trees and then descended out of control to the ground. The propeller rotated counterclockwise (CCW) as viewed from behind and required left rudder on takeoff. Other airplanes have propellers which rotate clockwise when viewed from behind and require right rudder for takeoff. The pilot reported a total time of 302 hours. The investigation was unable to substantiate any previous flight time for the pilot with airplanes where the propeller rotated CCW as viewed from behind.
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: 302 hours in all; 4 in the last 30 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180CC TYPE 1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFQ at 4:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,650 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from PHF, 28 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.