# NTSB WPR26FA101: Sonex Onex, N362DZ, Caldwell, ID, February 6, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report
- Date: February 6, 2026, 10:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, ID
- Coordinates: 43.637298, -116.6258
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6373&lon=-116.6258&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26FA101
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202403/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26FA101

## Preliminary report

On February 6, 2026, about 0945 mountain standard time, a Sonex Onex airplane, N362DZ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported that he observed the accident airplane depart runway 12 at Caldwell Executive Airport (EUL) Caldwell, Idaho. The airplane transitioned into an initial climb and reached an altitude of about 200–300 ft above ground level. The airplane then entered a shallow right turn followed by a left turn that suddenly steepened to a bank angle of about 90°. During this maneuver, the witness reported that the airplane rapidly rolled to the right and then descended out of his field of view. The airplane impacted a field about 850 ft southeast of the runway departure end at an elevation of about 2,435 ft mean sea level. All major structures were located at the accident site. Flight control continuity was traced from the cockpit to the elevator, aileron, and rudder flight control surfaces. The main wreckage, consisting of the fuselage, wings, engine, and empennage, was oriented to the northeast. Impact signatures were consistent with a near wings-level attitude at a shallow descent angle. The impact ground scar was confined to the immediate wreckage area. A handheld GPS unit was retained for data recovery. The wreckage was recovered and transported to a secure facility for further examination. Figure 1: Accident Site

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Merlyn R Reppert ONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056314A), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N362DZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N362DZ), registered now, S/N 0039, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SONEX AIRCRAFT ONEX
- Registry model: [Merlyn R Reppert ONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/merlyn-r-reppert-onex) (registry code 056314A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0039
- Year built: 2020
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: EUL, Caldwell Exec, runway 12, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: EUL, 0.5 nm away
- METAR: 061745Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM CLR 05/01 A3020 RMK T00500010 MADISHF,M

## 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 20260206001249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260206001249A), Feb 6, 2026: Merlyn R Reppert ONEX, Caldwell, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On February 6, 2026, about 0945 mountain standard time, a sonex Onex airplane, [privacy data omitted], was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near…

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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