# Accident 20201219020619A: Kirkpatrick Earl L SONEX - TAILWHEEL, Burleson, TX, December 19, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 19, 2020, 21:53 local time
- Place: Burleson, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5654° N, 97.3084° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5654&lon=-97.3084&mi=10
- Aircraft: N935EK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N935EK-2021-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kirkpatrick Earl L SONEX - TAILWHEEL (registry code 05637S8, https://openairdocs.org/model/kirkpatrick-earl-l-sonex-tailwheel) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KIRKPATRICK EARL L SONEX - TAILWHEEL
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR AEROVEE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,195 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA092) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201219020619A

## Narrative

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

ON DECEMBER 19, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1435 CST, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, AN EXPERIMENTAL SONEX, CRASHED WHILE ON AN ENGINE MAINTENANCE FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH OF FORT WORTH SPINKS AIRPORT (KFWS) WITH ONLY THE PILOT ONBOARD.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS FIRST MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED ?A SICK ENGINE? TO THE TOWER AT KFWS AND THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CLIMB. THE KFWS TOWER REPORTED TO THE PILOT THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A TELEPHONE WIRE WITH THE LANDING GEAR AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN BETWEEN TWO BUILDINGS LOCATED OFF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ IN BURLESON, TX. THE PILOT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.  THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 10 MILES WITH LIGHT WINDS.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

## 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 CEN21LA092](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA092), Dec 19, 2020: Sonex Tailwheel (N935EK), Burleson, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to engine seizure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot decision not to orbit the airport, as originally planned.

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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