Amateur-built SONERAI 1 accident near Harrisburg, Oregon, April 11, 1992
On April 11, 1992, a amateur-built SONERAI 1, registered N27127, was destroyed in an accident near Harrisburg, Oregon. 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH TERRAIN WHILE PERFORMING ACROBATIC MANEUVERS AS A RESULT OF HIS ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGEMENT. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOTS DISREGARD OF THE AIRPLANE'S OPERATING LIMITATIONS WHICH PROHIBITED ACROBATIC FLIGHT, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR THE TYPE OF OPERATION BEING CONDUCTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1992
- Place
- Harrisburg, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SONERAI 1
- Registration
- N27127 · registry record · serial 428
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT/OWNER HAD PERFORMED ACROBATIC MANEUVERS IN HIS HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE, INCLUDING ROLLS, AND HAD RECENTLY STARTED PERFORMING LOOPS. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, BUT ON-SCENE EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE. THE VOLKSWAGEN ENGINE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE HAD A GRAVITY FED FUEL SYSTEM WHICH WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CONSTANT SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS INVERTED DURING ACROBATIC MANEUVERS. EVIDENCE INDICATES THE PROPELLER WAS NOT TURNING AT IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE, AS CERTIFICATED, WAS PROHIBITED FROM ACROBATIC FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS ISSUED A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE IN 1983. A PERSON WHO LIVED WITH THE PILOT FOR 3 YRS HAD RECENTLY MOVED FROM HIS HOUSE DUE TO WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL AND USE OF MARIJUANA. THE TOXICOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE PILOT SHOWED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.105%, AND A 0.002 UG/ML LEVEL OF CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA) WAS ALSO DETECTED IN HIS BLOOD.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1500 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 700 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from EUG, 11 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.