# NTSB FTW85LA191: Wisconsin State Prison Sonerai II, N541DM, Castroville, TX, April 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1985, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Castroville, TX
- Coordinates: 29.339384, -98.870353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3394&lon=-98.8704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21728
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA191
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21728/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA191

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AFTER LIFT-OFF FROM THE 5,000 FT LONG RWY, THE ACFT WAS IN GROUND EFFECT PRIOR TO AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT ROLL. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND RIGHT WING FIRST. THE PLT REPORTED 2 HRS EXPERIENCE IN THE ACFT AND NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N541DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N541DM-2013-06-13), registration cancelled 2013-06-13, S/N 541, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WISCONSIN STATE PRISON SONERAI II
- Registry model: [Wisconsin State Prison SONERAI](https://openairdocs.org/model/wisconsin-state-prison-sonerai) (registry code 05659K3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7935 EVAS
- Airframe hours: 94
- Engines: VOLKSWAGEN 1850 CC reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Randy W. Bailey
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: T89, Castroville Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 201 total, 2 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F

## 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 19850419013699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850419013699A), Apr 19, 1985: Amtrmo SONERAI2, Castroville, TX, Destroyed. While flying in ground effect aircraft rolled to right and wing struck the ground.

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.

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