N966DPSonex Aircraft SONEX · 2021

On September 10, 2024, about 1345 eastern daylight time, a Sonex airplane, N966DP, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Sulphur Springs, Indiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to a witness, the pilot stated he was going to conduct a short local flight. The pilot, who hangared the airplane at his residence, taxied the airplane from his residence to the private grass airstrip. The witness observed the pilot perform an engine run-up, and then proceed to take off. Due to terrain obscuration, the witness lost sight of the airplane shortly after the initial takeoff roll. The witness observed a dust cloud and had not realized the airplane had crashed. The witness, who did not observe the airplane become airborne, responded to the grass airstrip and observed the airplane inverted in an adjacent soybean field (see Figure 1). The witness extricated the pilot and rendered aid until first responders arrived.

Figure 1. Aerial views of the accident site.

The airplane came to rest inverted in a soybean field about 1,250 ft from the start of the takeoff roll (see Figure 2.).

Figure 2. Accident airplane as it came to rest inverted in soybean field.

A review of the pilot’s logbook revealed the pilot had completed 4 flights in the accident airplane for a total of 4.0 flight hours since he purchased the airplane in 2021. The pilot’s most recent flight in the accident airplane was August 14, 2023, about 13 months before the accident.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. The flaps were in the retracted position. The canopy was found locked and secured. The main wheel brake handle was found in the OFF position. The wheel brakes engaged when the handle was manually moved to the ON position.

After the airplane was recovered to the pilot’s hangar, the engine was functionally tested on the airframe at various throttle settings with no anomalies noted. Multiple throttle bursts were completed with no hesitation or anomalies noted. The electric fuel pump was placed in the ON position while in the idle and ¾ throttle positions; no change in engine performance was noted.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

An autopsy of the pilot was performed by Saguaro Forensic Consulting Firm, LLC, at the request of the Henry County Coroner’s Office. The autopsy report was reviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was accident.

Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory found Clopidogrel, Doxazosin, Naproxen, and Pantoprazole in the pilot’s blood and liver. Clopidogrel (Plavix) is a platelet aggregation inhibitor used to prevent blood clots in coronary artery stents. Doxazosin (Cardura) is an alpha-1-adrenergic blocker used to treat prostate hypertrophy and high blood pressure. Naproxen (Aleve) is a non-prescription NSAID used to treat pain and inflammation. Pantoprazole (Protonix) is a proton-pump inhibitor that inhibits secretion of stomach acid. The medication is used to treat certain esophagus and stomach conditions such as acid reflux. All of the medications detected are acceptable for use by pilots and none were impairing or would have adversely affected performance.