- Date
- August 2, 1985, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place
- Waterbury, CT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N27EFEarl F. Folsom Sonerai II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 35622
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The homebuilt sonerai ii made an off airport landing 3 minutes after takeoff. The aircraft received substantial damage and the sole occupant was uninjured. Post crash examination of the aircraft showed the fuel tank was empty. However, there was fuel in the gascolator to the carburator. When the engine was rotated no spark was observed from the magnetos. After the 'p' lead was removed and reinstalled, and the ignition switch (manufactured for farm tractors) was cycled, spark was observed from the magnetos.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N27EF
- Reported as
- Earl F. Folsom Sonerai II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01476L
- Airframe hours
- 17
- Engine
- Volkswagen UNKNOWN, 40 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Earl F. Folsom
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 16, 1985 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- 0XC · Oxford, CT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,212 total · 6 in this make and model · 1,156 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
Other investigations on N27EF · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.