# Accident 20230910013629A: Martin Richard B SONEX, Dowagiac, MI, September 10, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 10, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Dowagiac, MI
- Airport: Dowagiac Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.0472° N, 86.0931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0472&lon=-86.0931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N569SX, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N569SX-2024-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Martin Richard B SONEX (registry code 05619AM, https://openairdocs.org/model/martin-richard-b-sonex) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MARTIN RICHARD B SONEX
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 750 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23FA410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA410) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230910013629A

## Narrative

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

NARRATIVE:

ON SEPTEMBER 10TH AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 LOCAL TIME AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AN EXPERIMENTAL / HOMEBUILT PILOTED BY A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED DOWAGIAC MUNICIPAL (C91) AIRPORT FOR A PLEASURE FLIGHT THAT WAS INTENDED DURATION OF 1 HOUR.   AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 IT WAS NOTED BY HIS WIFE THAT HE HAD NOT RETURNED AND AN ALNOT WAS ISSUED ON 09/11/2023 AT 0021 ZULU.

ON SEPTEMBER 14TH THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4.1 MILES NNE OF THE AIRPORT ON A 242 DEG HEADING AND THE PILOT WAS DECEASED.

ON SCENE OBSERVATIONS

THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS IT CRASHED INTO A HEAVILY WOODED HARDWOOD FOREST APPROXIMATELY 100FT FROM THE EAST EDGE OF A POTATO FIELD.  THE LEFT WING IMPACTED A TREE APPROXIMATELY 100-125FT ABOVE GROUND AND THIS SPUN THE AIRCRAFT AND CAUSED IT TO LAND UPSIDE DOWN FLAT ON THE GROUND WITH THE TAIL BENT AS IT IMPACTED A PREVIOUSLY DOWNED LOG.     AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE HEADING IN A 170 DEG HEADING AND INDICATIONS ARE POINTING TO A LOW-SPEED IMPACT.  INSPECTION OF THE PROPELLER SHOWS ONE BLADE BROKE OFF DUE TO GROUND IMPACT AND THE OTHER BLADE SHOWS SIGNS THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER FULL OR PARTIAL POWER DURING THE CRASH.  THE COCKPIT CANOPY WAS BROKEN AND THE PILOT WAS FOUND DECEASED AND WAS LAYING UNDER THE RIGHT WING AND IT APPEARS HE HAD CRAWLED OUT.    THE CAUSE OF DEATH AT THIS TIME IS UNKNOWN, AND NO BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS WERE NOTED ON SITE.

FLIGHT AND ENGINE CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED.  FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FILTER BOWL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

COCKPIT OBSERVATIONS

CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE ALL IN, THROTTLE WAS APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY, MIXTURE WAS RICH, CARB HEAT IN, (MAG 1) ELECTRONIC IGNITION SWITCH ON, (MAG 2) POINTS SWITCH OFF, MASTER ON, AVIONICS OFF, PITCH TRIM CENTERED.  FUEL SHUTOFF IS IN THE OPEN POSITION AND THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12.5 GALLONS ON BOARD.

## 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 CEN23FA410](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23FA410), Sep 10, 2023: Sonex Sonex (N569SX), Dowagiac, MI, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the ignition distributor rotor.

## Other reports on N569SX (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20050625013622A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050625013622A), Jun 25, 2005: Amtr SONEX (N569SX), Allegan, MI, Minor damage. (-23) While holding in #1 position for takeoff, the aircraft in #2 position taxied into the tail. The propeller sliced through the outbd sections of the left…

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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