NTSB Factual 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.