19980222001521A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr SONERAI2LTS · Malta, IL · February 22, 1998

Date: February 22, 1998 · 10:45 local
Place: Malta, IL
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision: Midair collision, first aircraft
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N43804
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI98FA096
Reported as: Amtr SONERAI2LTS
Reported engine: AMTRVW VW2180
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 717 total338 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N43804Registration cancelled Aug 12, 1998 · Stanek James F SONERAI II LTSS/N 34LTS Airframe modelStanek James F SONERAI II LTS

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Collided in midair with N38NL another sonerai homebuilt. Both fell out of control and fatal impacts. (.4)a witness on the ground observed the two airplanes approaching his farm from the northeast. He said that the two airplanes were just about overhead when the airplane on the right [north], the one slightly aft of the other airplane, drifted into the other airplane. The witness said that he heard a 'pop,' and then watched the airplanes come down. The witness lost sight of both airplanes as they went behind a line of trees running along the south side of his farmhouse. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. (-23) two aircraft collided during cruise flight.

As the FAA filed it

COLLIDED IN MIDAIR WITH N38NL ANOTHER SONERAI HOMEBUILT. BOTH FELL OUT OF CONTROL AND FATAL IMPACTS. (.4)A WITNESS ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE TWO AIRPLANES APPROACHING HIS FARM FROM THE NORTHEAST. HE SAID THAT THE TWO AIRPLANES WERE JUST ABOUT OVERHEAD WHEN THE AIRPLANE ON THE RIGHT [NORTH], THE ONE SLIGHTLY AFT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE, DRIFTED INTO THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE WITNESS SAID THAT HE HEARD A 'POP,' AND THEN WATCHED THE AIRPLANES COME DOWN. THE WITNESS LOST SIGHT OF BOTH AIRPLANES AS THEY WENT BEHIND A LINE OF TREES RUNNING ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF HIS FARMHOUSE. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES. (-23) TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI98FA096Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMalta, ILThe pilot's failed to maintain adequate clearance from the other aircraft.Feb 22, 1998 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed

Other aircraft in the event · 1

Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.

N38NLAmtr SONERAI2LAccident 19980222001522A · Destroyed · 1 fatal