Pilot's Son Said He Had Not Previously Flown The Airplane Solo

The NTSB has released its preliminary report from an accident in Florida involving a Sonex Waiex October 3, which indicates that the pilot may have been on his first solo flight in the airplane. The pilot was fatally injured in the accident.

According to the report, at about 0935 EDT, the experimental amateur-built Sonex Waiex, N461MM, owned and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain about 10 minutes after takeoff from the Flagler County Airport (XFL), Palm Coast, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to initial information from the FAA, the all-metal, "Y-tail," two-seat monoplane was built by the pilot from a kit that was purchased during September 2010, and issued an FAA special airworthiness certificate on January 15, 2013. The airplane was equipped with an 80-horsepower 2180 AeroVee engine, and had been based at XFL for about 6 months.

According to FAA radar data, the airplane departed XFL about 0925, and flew to the northeast. According to the pilot's son, when the pilot failed to meet a family member on the evening of October 3rd, local authorities were contacted. The pilot's car was subsequently found in front of his hangar at XFL. The hangar doors were open and the pilot's son believed the pilot most likely elected to take a local solo flight in the airplane, which he had not flown solo previously. Radar data and cell phone "pings" were utilized to help determine the airplane's location. The airplane was subsequently found on October 4th, in a tidal marsh near Pellicer Creek, about 13 miles north-northwest of XFL. The majority of the airplane was buried in mud/water, with the empennage and portions of structure associated with both wings visible.

The airplane was subsequently recovered on October 9th, and was retained for examination to be performed at a later date.

A witness located in a residential community about 2.5 miles south of the accident site reported that he observed a white/silver single-engine airplane flying overhead sometime between 0900 and 1000. The airplane was approximately 1,000 feet above the ground, and flying to the north when it experienced a sudden, complete loss of engine power. The airplane turned to the left and completed two circular patterns before disappearing from his view. He did not hear any engine noise or sounds associated with an accident, and assumed that the pilot of the airplane performed a successful emergency landing to a nearby former golf course.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov