N224RB

On July 20, 2003, about 1930 eastern daylight time, an experimental Sonerai IIB, N224RB, operated by and registered to an individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, struck power lines while performing maneuvers and crashed in a field near Lakeland, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The experimental airplane was destroyed and the pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Florida, earlier that day, about 1900.

Preliminary reports from the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that the experimental airplane struck power lines at an estimated height of 35 feet above the ground with the right wing tip, resulting in an uncontrolled descent in a field.

A witness stated she observed a small bright yellow airplane around 1925 on the night of the accident flying just over her residence. It caught her attention due to how low the airplane was flying just above the trees. She added, "I watched him head west at the same altitude for a very short distance and did a 90 degree bank to the left, then another to the right, after that he was completely out of sight."

Several witnesses stated to the Polk County Sheriff Officer they observed the airplane perform what appeared to be "stunts or tricks" before descending toward the ground. They never saw the airplane impact the ground but observed the airplane in an open field. Pieces of the airplane were found next to the road as the witnesses headed toward the wreckage to check on the person aboard.

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident stated the power lines were located along Moore road 15 miles north of the Lakeland Airport, Lakeland, Florida. The airplane lost a portion of the right wing at the site of the power lines and continued west about 1/4 mile before it impacted with the ground.

A postmortem examination of the pilot was performed by Stephen J. Nelson, M.D., of District Ten Medical Examiner's Office, located in Bartow, Florida. The cause of death was a result of multiple blunt force traumatic injuries sustained during an airplane crash. The FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory (CAMI) performed analysis of specimens obtained from the pilot after the accident. The results of the analysis were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, cyanide, and specific drugs.