ERA26LA231

On June 5, 2026, at 1100 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sonex airplane, N28YD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jaffrey, New Hampshire. The private pilot was seriously injured. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane said he planned to depart the Jaffrey Airfield Silver Ranch Airport (AFN), Jaffrey, New Hampshire, for a short flight in the local area. After he performed a pre-flight inspection of the airplane, which included checking the fuel for adequate quantity and for contamination, the pilot started the engine and back-taxied to the end of runway 34. Prior to departure, he performed an engine run-up, and everything was normal. During the subsequent takeoff when the airplane reached about 100 ft above the ground, the engine “unexpectedly stopped.” With no runway remaining to land, and buildings in front of him, he attempted to land in a field off to his left. The pilot had no further memory of the accident sequence. A witness, who watched the airplane depart, said that when the airplane reached about 100 ft above the ground, the engine made two “putt, putt, putt” sounds and went silent. He thought the engine started again but only momentarily. The airplane turned left and the witness thought the airplane was going to impact trees. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and responded to the field where the airplane crashed. The witness later observed the fuel selector in the “on” position and turned it off to prevent spillage or fire. The airplane came to rest upright in the opposite direction of travel, and there was no postimpact fire. The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The canopy was shattered and the engine was displaced aft and twisted in its mounts. The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.