Kostrazewa Andre SONEX LIGHT SPORT N620AK

Summary

On 25 June 2020 at about 18:54 local time, a Kostrazewa Andre SONEX LIGHT SPORT registered N620AK, operated by Jason Sorensen, was involved in an accident near Centerville, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2020 at 18:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Centerville, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.7792, -111.8958

Aircraft

Kostrazewa Andre SONEX LIGHT SPORT

Registration

N620AK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Jason Sorensen

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bountiful → Bountiful

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA196

2 people died.

The pilot flying’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an attempted forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. The reason for the attempted forced landing could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A resident who lived near the accident site observed the airplane flying at a “normal altitude” from west to east. Shortly thereafter, he heard a “backfiring” sound and watched the airplane until it flew out of sight; he did not observe the accident. Dash cam video of the accident sequence captured the airplane coming into view traveling from north to south at a low altitude. The airplane then entered a descending right 180° turn, in what appeared to be a normal bank attitude. As the airplane proceeded through 90° of the right turn, the bank angle increased significantly. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted terrain in a nose- and right-wing-low attitude, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The airplane burst into flames, which resulted in the forward cabin/cockpit area being consumed by fire. The accident location was about 300 ft east of what appeared to be the approach end of an abandoned/reclaimed runway that was oriented north-south, and the airplane’s flightpath prior to the accident was consistent with a downwind approach and a right turn to base and final approach for a forced landing on a suitable surface. The airplane was occupied by the owner-pilot and a pilot-rated passenger. The pilot/owner was not authorized to act as pilot-in-command; however, the investigation could not determine which pilot was controlling the airplane at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was operating in weather conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at cruise and glide power settings; however, the investigation could not determine if a partial or total loss of engine power had occurred prior to the airplane impacting terrain. The accident is consistent with the pilot exceeding the airplane’s critical angle of attack during an attempted forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.