Friday, April 08, 2016

Fuel Exhaustion: Sonex, N97GR; accident occurred April 08, 2016 at Jesup-Wayne County Airport (KJES), Georgia

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


http://registry.faa.gov/N97GR


Location: Jesup, GA
Accident Number: ERA16LA151
Date & Time: 04/08/2016, 1105 EDT
Registration: N97GR
Aircraft: GRANGER MICHAEL D SONEX
Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On April 8, 2016, about 1105 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sonex, N97GR, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on approach to Wayne County Airport (JES), Jesup, Georgia. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that departed Vero Beach Municipal Airport (VRB) Vero Beach, Florida, at 0820.

A family member stated that the pilot did not remember any of the events leading up to the accident nor did he remember any of the events after.

The pilot had just purchased the airplane, and according to the airplane's previous owner, prior to the accident he examined the airplane with the pilot, and explained everything he knew about its operation, performance, and maintenance. On the day of the accident, the pilot and the previous owner conducted a preflight inspection and the pilot asked the owner to fly around the airport traffic pattern with him a few times. The previous owner stated that they conducted 3 stop-and-go landings at VRB. After the third landing, the pilot said that he was satisfied and ready to depart.

The previous owner asked the pilot where he planned to stop for fuel, and he replied he planned to stop at Vidalia Regional Airport (VDI), Vidalia, Georgia, which was about 2 hours away. The previous owner advised him that he typically used 2 hours as a maximum flight leg time and that the airplane had a 16 gallon fuel capacity and consumed around 6 gallons of fuel per hour, and that generally 2 hour flight legs leave about 4 gallons of fuel remaining for at least a 30 minute reserve. The previous owner also pointed out that one should never rely completely on fuel gauges, no matter how accurate. He told the pilot that they had used some fuel during the flight that morning, and that he likely would not have enough to make VDI with an adequate reserve. The pilot said he realized that and would look for a fuel stop prior to VDI.

Later that day, the JES airport manager received a report that an airplane had crashed adjacent runway 29. He confirmed the registration number and contacted the authorities.

Vandalia Regional Airport was located about 290 nautical miles northwest of VRB. Wayne County Airport was located about 10 nautical miles northeast of a direct course line between VRB and VDI, and about 250 nautical miles from VRB.

Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuselage of the airplane was crushed. The cockpit section of the airplane was separated from the fuselage. The fuel system was not breached, and no fuel was discovered in the wing tanks or the header fuel tank.

An examination of the engine revealed that there was impact damage on the bottom of the case. The engine mount was bent forward and was crushed against the flywheel. The carburetor was separated from the intake manifold, and the air filter was crushed. The oil system was intact, and the oil dipstick an oil quantity up to the fill mark. Due to impact damage the engine could not be test run. The spark plugs were removed, and the electrodes were gray in color. The crankshaft was rotated by hand and compression was observed on all cylinders. The valve covers were removed and when the crankshaft was rotated, valve train continuity was observed on all rocker arms. The distributors were not damaged, and the rotor turned when the distributor was rotated. Due to the magneto ring damage the distributors could not produce spark.

The airplane was equipped with a MGL Avionics Stratomaster Ultra-X recorder monitoring system. Download and examination of the data from the unit revealed that it did not capture data relevant to the accident flight.

The airplane was also equipped with an Appareo Stratus device , which began recording at VRB about 0816. The data showed that the airplane departed VRB about 0839 and proceeded uneventfully until the groundspeed reached near zero around 1104 while maneuvering over runway 6/24 at JES. Over the final 10 seconds of the flight, the recorded groundspeed decreased from about 75 knots to below 30 knots, and the GPS altitude decreased from about 250 to 0 feet. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 50, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/10/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 16 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GRANGER MICHAEL D
Registration: N97GR
Model/Series: SONEX NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 0611
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 03/25/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 657 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 6 Hours
Engines:  Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 346 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Jabiru
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 3300A
Registered Owner: GRANGER MICHAEL D
Rated Power: 107 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: JES, 107 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1235 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 11 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 320°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.92 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Vero Beach Muni, FL (VRB)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: VIDALIA, GA (VDI)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0820 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Wayne County Airport (JES)
Runway Surface Type: Dirt
Airport Elevation: 107 ft
Runway Surface Condition:Rough 
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 31.552222, -81.870278 (est)

NTSB Identification: ERA16LA151
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, April 08, 2016 in Jesup, GA
Aircraft: GRANGER MICHAEL D SONEX, registration: N97GR
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On April 8, 2016, about 1245 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Sonex, N97GR, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, while on approach to Wayne County Airport (JES), Jesup, Georgia. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-county flight that departed Vero Beach Municipal Airport (VRB), Vero Beach, Florida, at 0820.

According to the previous owner, he examined the airplane with the pilot, and explained everything he knew about its operation, performance, and maintenance. On the day of the accident both gentlemen conducted a preflight and the pilot asked the owner to go around the pattern with him a few times. The owner stated that they conducted 3 stop and go landings at VRB. After the third landing the pilot said that he was satisfied and ready to depart. The owner asked the pilot were he planned to stop for fuel and he replied he planned to stop at Vidalia Regional Airport, Vidalia, Georgia (VDI), which was about 2 hours away. The owner advised him that he typically used 2 hours as a maximum flight leg time and "the Sonex holds 16 gallons and uses about 6 gallons an hour, depending on power and mixture settings, but 2 hours of flight generally leaves about 4 gallons remaining, for at least a 30 minute reserve." The owner also pointed out that one should never rely completely on fuel gauges, no matter how accurate. He told the pilot that they had used some fuel during the flight that morning, and that he likely would not have enough to make VDI with an adequate reserve. The pilot said he realized that and would look for a fuel stop prior to VDI.

Later on that day the JES airport manager received a report that an airplane had crashed adjacent runway 29. He confirmed the registration number and contacted the authorities.

Initial examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuselage of the airplane was crushed. The cockpit section of the airplane was separated from the fuselage. The fuel system was not breached and no fuel was noted in the header tank. 

The airplane was recovered and retained for further examination.







Paul Laurent recovery fund: https://www.gofundme.com/PaulL




JESUP, Ga. (WJCL) -- A small plane crashed near Jesup Airport around 1:20 p.m.

The pilot, Paul Laurent, from Wisconsin was flown to Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. 

Original article can be found here: http://www.wjcl.com



JESUP, GA (WTOC) -

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office says a small plane crashed on the edge of the runway at Jesup's airport, after lunch on Friday. 


Few details are known at this time, but we do know one person has been flown out for treatment. We do not know the extent of the injuries at this time. 


Original article can be found here: http://www.wtvm.com 






JESUP, Ga. – The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office says a plane crashed at the Jesup–Wayne County Airport.

One person was injured and had to be flown by helicopter to Memorial Medical Center.


No word yet on a cause or if there were any other passengers on the plane.


Original article can be found here: http://wsav.com


Update: May 11, 2016

Paul made it back into the air, on a Leer Jet, no less! 

Last Thursday Paul boarded a medical flight from Savannah, GA to Milwaukee, WI. Once he landed, he was taken to Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute at St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee. 

We can't say enough good things about this facility and the improvements Paul has already made since arriving. Paul's room on the 8th floor has a beautiful view, overlooking the Milwaukee Harbor and Lake Michigan. 

Since arriving, Paul goes through 3.5 hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy a day. In less than a week this has resulted in many encouraging developments in his recovery. When family members talk to him, he's gradually able to connect to past memories and events and respond with one word answers. He is also starting to be able to communicate lightly by writing. 

Family has been keeping him company daily, but he is still limited to having 1 or 2 people in his room at a time. 

Thank you again for all of the support for Paul! The donations have gone a long way towards paying for the $12,000 cost of the medical flight home!

The family is very encouraged by Paul's continued steps forward in his recovery. I am sure he will be in awe of the kindness and generosity shown be everyone! 

Read more here: https://www.gofundme.com/PaulL

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