# NTSB CEN19LA045: Brandt Sonex, N393SX, Lodi, WI, December 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 2018, 14:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Lodi, WI - Coordinates: 43.326667, -89.529441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3267&lon=-89.5294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98773/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98773 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA045 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway during final approach, which resulted in impact with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05633MY), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633MY), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: heading/course](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md?model=05633MY), [All aircraft, 82 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062047/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05633MY), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Brandt Leroy E SONEX, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05633MY), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot was conducting a personal, local flight when the airplane's left wingtip impacted a tree while on final approach to the runway. The pilot stated that, during final approach, he was fixated on maintaining the proper landing airspeed and that he inadvertently allowed the airplane to drift north of the final approach course into the tree. The airplane then spun around the tree and descended nose down to ground impact. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 15, 2018, about 1420 central standard time, an amateur-built Sonex airplane, N393SX, collided with a tree and terrain while on final approach to Lodi Lakeland Airport (9WN5), near Lodi, Wisconsin. The sport pilot sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed 9WN5 about 1340.The pilot reported that he entered the left downwind leg for runway 9 with the intention to make a full-stop landing. He stated that his turn from the downwind leg to base leg was uneventful; however, the airplane's airspeed had increased slightly during the base leg. The pilot reported that he turned onto final approach about ½ mile from the end of the runway at 1,600 ft mean sea level (about 750 ft above the ground) and reduced airspeed to about 63 mph. The pilot stated that while he focused on maintaining proper landing airspeed the airplane drifted north of the extended runway centerline and the airplane's left wingtip collided with a treetop about 50-60 ft above the ground. The airplane subsequently spun around the tree and descended about 60° nose-down into the ground. The pilot stated that the airplane did not bounce upon impact with the ground. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal flight. The pilot stated that he was fixated with maintaining his airspeed during final approach and that he inadvertently allowed the airplane to drift north of the final approach course and into the tree. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N393SX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N393SX-2020-03-06), registration cancelled 2020-03-06, S/N 393, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Brandt Sonex (B) - Registry model: [Brandt Leroy E SONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/brandt-leroy-e-sonex) (registry code 05633MY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerovee 2.1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerovee-2-1) (registry code 01402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 393 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 28 - Engines: ULPower Aero Engines UL260IS 107 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 14, 2018 - Departed: 9WN5, Lodi, WI - Destination: 9WN5, Lodi, WI - Airport: 9WN5, Lodi Lakeland Airport, runway 09, 1,875 × 105 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 26, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 187.6 total, 28 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: C29, 13 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20181215022239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181215022239A), Dec 15, 2018: Brandt Leroy E SONEX, Lodi, WI, Substantial damage. On December 15, 2018 an experimental amateur built Sonex aircraft N393SX with a single pilot on board left Lodi Lakeland (9WN5) airport for a pleasure flight.… ## Other investigations on N393SX (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 CEN16LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA273), Jul 19, 2016: Brandt Sonex (N393SX), Lodi, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The separated rocker arm assembly for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power and led to the landing gear collapsing during the subsequent forced landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98773. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Voicemail - Leroy Brandt (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Voicemail%20-%20Leroy%20Brandt-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.