Job SONERAI II N288LJ

Summary

On 8 June 1989 at about 23:10 local time, a Job SONERAI II registered N288LJ, operated by Ronald C. Cooper, was involved in an accident near Fowlerville, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 June 1989 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Fowlerville, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Glover Field (NONE)

Coordinates

42.6591, -84.0698

Aircraft

Job SONERAI II

Registration

N288LJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ronald C. Cooper

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fowlerville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI89DEC05

1 person was seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S DISCONTINUING VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SCAN GAGES BEFORE CLEARING A KNOWN OBSTACLE ON THE DEPARTURE PATH FROM THE RUNWAY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MODEL AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT COMPLETED TAXI TESTS ON THE AIRCRAFT AND ACCELERATED FOR TAKEOFF ON THE FIRST FLIGHT FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION OF THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE. DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM THE PRIVATE SOD STRIP, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND FELL 50 FEET TO GROUND. THE PILOT STATES HE NOTED FORWARD AND SIDE VISIBILITY FROM THE COCKPIT WAS LIMITED AND THAT HE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH INSTRUMENTS AFTER LIFTOFF. HE NOTICED TREE BRANCHES AHEAD AS THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE PILOT WAS THE OWNER OF THE AIRSTRIP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.