Sonex Onex Crashes Near Caldwell, Idaho, Killing 79-Year-Old Pilot

A Sonex Onex aircraft (registration N362DZ) crashed near Caldwell, Idaho, on Feb. 6, 2026, killing the 79-year-old pilot, Bayne Just, a resident of Nampa. The aircraft departed Caldwell Executive Airport on a personal flight, climbed to an estimated 200-300 feet above ground level, then entered a shallow right turn followed by a left turn that steepened to about 90 degrees. Witnesses reported the airplane rolled to the right and descended rapidly before impact.

Impact and Wreckage

The wreckage was found in a field approximately 850 feet southeast of the runway departure end at an elevation of roughly 2,435 feet mean sea level. The main fuselage, wings, engine and empennage were oriented to the northeast, with impact signatures consistent with a near wings-level attitude at a shallow descent angle.

Investigation Status

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are conducting the investigation. As of a Feb. 9, 2026, press release from Canyon County, the cause and manner of the accident remain under investigation. The incident is classified as a fatal accident, with investigators examining flight operations and aircraft condition as part of the ongoing probe.