# NTSB DFW07CA068: Fortuna Sonex, N229P, Atlanta, TX, February 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 10, 2007, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, TX - Coordinates: 33.1016666666667, -94.1952777777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1017&lon=-94.1953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Dallas, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 65285 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65285/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall/mush. A contributing factor was the group of trees located near the departure end of the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - initiated, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane stalled and collided with trees while maneuvering to avoid trees during a go-around. The pilot reported that while practicing takeoff and landings on runway 33, he determined that he was too high on the approach and initiated a go-around. The pilot concluded that his 80-horsepower homebuilt airplane was not going to be able to clear the trees at the departure end of the 2,463-foot long, by 150-foot wide turf runway, so he turned the airplane 45-degrees to the left to avoid the trees. The pilot added that while maneuvering, the airplane stalled and collided with trees located about 100 yards west of the runway 33. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position at the base of the trees, resulting in structural damage to the wings and the fuselage. The canopy was also damaged. There was no fire. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site noted that runway 15/33 is not annotated on the airport diagram thus there was no information about the obstructions present at either end of the runway. ## Factual narrative The 275-hour private pilot, who reported having accumulated a total of 2.5 hours in the same make and model, reported that while practicing takeoff and landings on runway 33, he determined that he was too high on the approach and initiated a go-around. The pilot concluded that his 80-horsepower homebuilt airplane was not going to be able to clear the trees at the departure end of the 2,463-foot long, by 150-foot wide turf runway, so he turned the airplane 45-degrees to the left to avoid the trees. The pilot added that while maneuvering, the airplane stalled and collided with trees located about 100 yards west of the runway 33. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position at the base of the trees, resulting in structural damage to the wings and the fuselage. The canopy was also damaged. There was no fire. The pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was able to egress the airplane without injury. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the accident site noted that runway 15/33 is not annotated on the airport diagram thus there was no information about the obstructions present at either end of the runway. The weather reported at a nearby airport at the time of the accident was wind from 060 degrees at 3 knots, clear skies, and 10 miles visibility. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N229P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N229P-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Fortuna Sonex - Registry model: [Fortuna Dave SONEX-EXPERIMENTAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/fortuna-dave-sonex-experimental) (registry code 05618BQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 018 - Airframe hours: 579 - Engines: Jabiru 2200 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles E. Walton - Registered owner: Charles E. Walton - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2006 - Departed: KATA, Atlanta, TX - Destination: KATA - Airport: KATA, Hall-Miller Municipal, runway 33, 2,463 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 2 in this make and model, 210 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KTXK, 23 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 20070210001589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070210001589A), Feb 10, 2007: Amtr SONEX, Atlanta, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1040L on February 10, 2007 aircraft N229P, piloted by [privacy data omitted] impacted a grouping of trees causing substantial damage to… ## Other investigations on N229P (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 ERA14FA464](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA464), Apr 5, 2014: Fortuna Dave Sonex (N229P), Dunnellon, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The in-flight collision with a tree in a heavily wooded area during controlled flight while the pilot was attempting a forced landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available… 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.