Shafer SONERAI-I N20CS
22 June 1997 · W.hampton Beach, New York, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 22 June 1997 at about 20:00 local time, a Shafer SONERAI-I registered N20CS was involved in an accident near W.hampton Beach, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- W.hampton Beach, New York, United States
- Nearest airport
- Francis S Gabreski (FOK)
- Coordinates
- 40.8299, -72.6509
- Aircraft
- Shafer SONERAI-I
- Registration
- N20CS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC97LA125
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
failure of the number two pilot (N77TY) to follow race procedures, and failure of the number three pilot (N20CS) to turn and avoid the number two airplane, when it decelerated into the number three pilot's blind spot.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Four homebuilt, low wing airplanes, were being used to participate in an air race, conducted by the Formula V Air Racing Association. After crossing the finish line, while banking left at the first set of pylons, the number two and number three airplanes collided. Race procedures were for the pilots to maintain power and airspeed, while climbing to enter a landing traffic pattern. According to the fourth place pilot, the number two airplane, a Smith Sonerai-I, N77TY, decelerated, pitched nose up, and collided with the number three airplane, a Shafer Sonerai-I, N20CS. During deceleration, the number two airplane was below number three, and it entered the 'blind area' of number three. The number three pilot did not maneuver to maintain visual contact with number two. The design of the FAA approved race course included a 500 foot safety zone between the flight path of the airplanes and the spectators. Wreckage of both airplanes came to rest outside the safety zone, where spectators could have positioned themselves.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shafer SONERAI-I SONERAI-I | N20CS | - | Destroyed |
| Smith SONERAI-I SONERAI-I | N77TY | - | Destroyed |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 1997 | Lockheed L-1011 | Jamaica, New York, United States | - | Fatal | - |
| 4 Apr 1997 | Cessna 650 | Buffalo, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Beechcraft F33A | Mattituck, New York, United States | Jack Lindner | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 1997 | Cessna 182P | Red Hook, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 May 1997 | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Flushing, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 May 1997 | Hiller UH-12E | Granby, New York, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |