# Accident 19970826023949A: Amtr SONERAI, Scottsburg, IN, August 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 1997, 17:45 local time
- Place: Scottsburg, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.6795° N, 85.7800° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6795&lon=-85.7800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N76457, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76457-2017-06-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kellums Mike SONERAI I (registry code 05603KH, https://openairdocs.org/model/kellums-mike-sonerai-i) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Volkswagen CONVERSION (registry code 63501, https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR SONERAI
- Reported engine: AMTRVW VW2200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 9 total, 9 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97FA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97FA272) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970826023949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)A WITNESS ON THE AIRPORT SAW THE STUDENT PILOT TAKEOFF TO THE SOUTH AND PERFORM A NORMAL CLIMBOUT. THE WITNESS SAID THAT THE PILOT WAS A 'STICKLER FOR FOLLOWING THE RULES' AND FELT THAT THE PILOT TURNED EASTBOUND TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.  ANOTHER WITNESS WHO WAS NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE SAID SHE 'HEARD THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE CUT OUT.'  THE WITNESS SAID THAT WHEN SHE LOOKED SOUTH TOWARD WHERE SHE HEARD THE SOUND, SHE 'SAW THE AIRPLANE COME STRAIGHT DOWN.'   THE STUDENT PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 9.0 HOURS TOTAL FLYING TIME IN THE AIRPLANE.  ALL 9.0 HOURS WAS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 200 TO 300 HOURS IN ULTRALIGHTS.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE REVEALED AN 'UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF CARBON IN THE CYLINDERS.  THE CARBON WAS DRY - A TYPE ASSOCIATED WITH TOO RICH OF A FUEL MIXTURE.'  NO OTHER ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.     (-23) AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND.  PILOT DID NOT HAVE A VALID MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AND ONLY HAD A STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97FA272](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97FA272), Aug 26, 1997: Kellums Sonerai 1 (N76457), Scottsburg, IN, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed greater than the stalling speed for the airplane. A factor relating to this accident was the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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