Pilot Debrief

RATH MICHAEL J SONERAI 2 near Cynthiana, KY — 2026-06-30

Investigation ongoingERA26LA254
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Date
2026-06-30
Location
Cynthiana, KY, USA
Airport
0I8
Aircraft
RATH MICHAEL J SONERAI 2
Registration
N1406
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On June 30, 2026, at about 1030 eastern daylight time, an experimental Sonerai 2 airplane, N1406, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform local air work in the traffic pattern. There were no anomalies noted during the preflight inspection, engine run-up, or subsequent takeoff. The airplane departed with 10 gallons of fuel. About 25 minutes into the flight, after completing two touch-and-go-landings, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while transitioning to the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and performed a forced landing to a field west of the airport. During the landing roll, the landing gear separated and the fuselage impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Following the landing, the airplane’s lithium battery caught fire and consumed most of the fuselage. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Loss of engine power (partial) · Initial climb
  • Loss of Thrust on Takeoff
View NTSB preliminary report

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