# NTSB NYC78FHA37: Soneria II, N81915, Pipersville, PA, September 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1978
- Place: Pipersville, PA · PIPERSVILLE, PA
- Location: 40.4254° N, 75.1393° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pipersville, PA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4254&lon=-75.1393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 16, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC78FHA37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC78FHA37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2980  78/9/23    PIPERSVILLE,PA      SONERIA II          CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 452
        TIME - 1807                    N81915              PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 125 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PIPERSVILLE,PA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO FOLLOW APPROVED PROCEDURES,DIRECTIVES,ETC.
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- STRESS TESTING ACFT FOR ACROBATIC MEET.FLT TESTS PROHIBITED PER OP LIMITS.WINGS FOLDED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N81915](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N81915-2018-07-19), registration cancelled 2018-07-19, S/N 103, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SONERIA II
- Registry model: [Stewart SONERAI TWO](https://openairdocs.org/model/stewart-sonerai-two) (registry code 05659A2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780923030499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780923030499A), Sep 23, 1978: Kinner SPORTSTERK, Pipersville, PA, Substantial damage. Stress testing acft for acrobatic meet. Flt tests prohibited per omits. Wings folded.

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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