# NTSB MIA03LA146: Sonerai Sonerai IIB, N224RB, Lakeland, FL, July 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2003, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lakeland, FL - Coordinates: 27.719444, -81.610275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7194&lon=-81.6103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57520 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57520/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57520 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to conduct low level flight and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,static - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - wing - loss,partial - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis Preliminary reports from the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that the experimental airplane struck power lines at an estimated height of 35 feet above the ground with the right wing tip, resulting in an uncontrolled descent in a field. A witness stated she observed a small bright yellow airplane around 1925 on night of the accident flying just over her residence. It caught her attention due to how low the airplane was flying just above the trees. She added, "I watched him head west at the same altitude for a very short distance and did a 90 degree bank to the left, then another to the right , after that he was completely out of sight." Several witnesses stated to the Polk County Sheriff Officer they observed the airplane perform what appeared to be "stunts or tricks" before descending toward the ground. They never saw the airplane impact the ground but observed the airplane in an open field. Pieces of the airplane were found next to the road as the witnesses headed toward the wreckage to check on the person aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that responded to the accident stated the power lines were located along Moore road 15 miles north of the Lakeland Airport, Lakeland, Florida. The airplane lost a portion of the right wing at the site of the power lines and continued west about 1/4 mile before it impacted with the ground. The postmortem examination of the pilot listed cause of death was multiple blunt force traumatic injuries sustained during an airplane crash. FAA toxicology analyses were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, cyanide, and specific drugs. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2003, about 1930 eastern daylight time, an experimental Sonerai IIB, N224RB, operated by and registered to an individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, struck power lines while performing maneuvers and crashed in a field near Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The experimental airplane was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Florida, earlier that day, about 1900. Preliminary reports from the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that the experimental airplane struck power lines at an estimated height of 35 feet above the ground with the right wing tip, resulting in an uncontrolled descent in a field. A witness stated she observed a small bright yellow airplane around 1925 on the night of the accident flying just over her residence. It caught her attention due to how low the airplane was flying just above the trees. She added, "I watched him head west at the same altitude for a very short distance and did a 90 degree bank to the left, then another to the right, after that he was completely out of sight." Several witnesses stated to the Polk County Sheriff Officer they observed the airplane perform what appeared to be "stunts or tricks" before descending toward the ground. They never saw the airplane impact the ground but observed the airplane in an open field. Pieces of the airplane were found next to the road as the witnesses headed toward the wreckage to check on the person aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident stated the power lines were located along Moore road 15 miles north of the Lakeland Airport, Lakeland, Florida. The airplane lost a portion of the right wing at the site of the power lines and continued west about 1/4 mile before it impacted with the ground. A postmortem examination of the pilot was performed by Stephen J. Nelson, M.D., of District Ten Medical Examiner's Office, located in Bartow, Florida. The cause of death was a result of multiple blunt force traumatic injuries sustained during an airplane crash. The FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory (CAMI) performed analysis of specimens obtained from the pilot after the accident. The results of the analysis were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, cyanide, and specific drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N224RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N224RB-2004-05-13), registration cancelled 2004-05-13, S/N 10492230, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sonerai Sonerai IIB - Registry model: [Burgner Howard R JR SONERAI IIB](https://openairdocs.org/model/burgner-howard-r-jr-sonerai-iib) (registry code 05609ID) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 10492230 - Engines: Volkswagen unknow reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KLAL, Lakeland, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KLAL, Lakeland Linder Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 710 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 30,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KLAL, 30 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 20030720015949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030720015949A), Jul 20, 2003: Amtr SONERAI2B, Lakeland, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On 7-20-2003 at approximately 1930 Mr. Burgner as pilot in command operating his experimental aircraft struck a power line with his right wing. The power… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57520. 152 KB in all. - Excerpt from the Polk County Sheriff's Office Report. (item 1, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40220514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20the%20Polk%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Report.-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40220515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40223441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Toxicological%20Report-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.