Jackson SONERAI I N103HJ

Summary

On 2 September 1996 at about 00:08 local time, a Jackson SONERAI I registered N103HJ was involved in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 1996 at 00:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Jackson SONERAI I

Registration

N103HJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Taos → Moriarty

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA367

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. The lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was on a flight from Questa, New Mexico, to Moriarty, New Mexico. After departing Questa, an intermediate stop was made at Taos Municipal Airport, Taos, New Mexico, for fuel; however, there was no fuel available. Approximately 24 minutes after departing Taos, while in cruise flight at 9,500 feet MSL, the engine lost power. A forced landing was made in an open field, and during the landing roll, the airplane 'flipped over the nose.' A witness reported hearing the airplane's engine 'stop,' and observed the airplane in a 'glide.' The witness also heard the engine 'start and stop' several times. An examination of the fuel system revealed that the expansion fuel cap had separated during ground impact, and the only evidence of fuel was a slight odor. The pilot reported that there was no fuel visible on the clear plastic tube, which served as a fuel quantity gauge at the time the engine lost power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.