Quote Originally Posted by 1600vw View Post
It looks like the turbo could have been an issue or caused this. So sad. They also say if just maybe they would have used the complete runway we would not be talking about this. Again very sad. Thanks for the update Ron.
For those of you who don't know, I worked for Sonex during the time of this accident. I had just returned from 25 hours of cross country in the accident airplane. I flew it down to Florida for the Sebring and Sun N Fun events. The airplane had been flown only one other time since returning from Sun N Fun that spring. I helped Jeremy and Mike push the airplane out before the accident flight. I personally checked the oil and the fuel, and watched them taxi out and do the run-up. All was normal at that time.

I did not witness the takeoff, and it seems that nobody else did either. No eye witnesses have ever come forward at any rate. Jeremy was notorious for doing that intersection takeoff when the wind was from the east, as it was a long taxi from Sonex (on the very east side of the airport at OSH) to the far end of Runway 09. The intersection that they departed from is almost exactly half-way down the 6000 ft+ runway.

To get to my point, I was also the Sonex factory representative who assisted the FAA and NTSB with their on-site investigation the day after the accident. I personally turned the wrenches as we carefully evaluated the impact-damaged engine. One of the things we focused on was the turbo. The turbo housing was fractured on the compressor side, forcing the compressor housing to physically jam the turbine wheel. As soon as we dismantled the intake manifold to the point that this pressure was released, the turbine wheels and shaft turned freely. There was no failure of the turbo that was apparent other than the physical impact damage. The wording of the factual and final reports don't adequately illustrate this, which Sonex is disputing. Hopefully the report will be corrected to reflect what we actually found on-site.

Unfortunately, we will never know what actually happened that day. There are a few mysteries that we will never solve, but the lesson that can be learned (and it's not a new one) is that it is a mistake to leave usable runway behind you, regardless of what you "think" you'll need. Take that lesson to heart, and fly safely.