WALTON DANIEL J SONEX
Pecatonica, IL — December 24, 2020
Event Information
| Date | December 24, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN21LA100 |
| Event ID | 20201228102461 |
| Location | Pecatonica, IL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 42.30387, -89.34484 |
| Airport | Pecatonica |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | WALTON DANIEL J |
| Model | SONEX |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, and the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following the loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and impact with terrain.
Full Narrative
On December 24, 2020, about 1440 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Sonex, N610DJ, was involved in an accident near Pecatonica, Illinois. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot did not provide a statement regarding the accident. Information from the Federal Aviation Administration indicated that, when the pilot reduced engine power to 2,000 rpm while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the engine lost total power. The airplane remained in a left turn while the pilot attempted to restart the engine, and the pilot stated that he lost control effectiveness during the turn. The airplane entered a stall/spin, then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank was at least 1/3 full of fuel and was leaking from impact damage. The fuel lines to the engine were attached and secure. The engine could be rotated, and engine drive train and valve train continuity were confirmed. The carburetor bowl contained 100 low lead aviation fuel, and the carburetor float moved freely. The spark plugs electrodes exhibited normal coloration/features.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.