What happened
On February 6, 2026, at approximately 0945 mountain standard time, a Sonex Onex, registration N362DZ, was involved in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal flight.
A witness observed the aircraft departing runway 12 at Caldwell Executive Airport (EUL). After takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 200–300 feet above ground level. The aircraft performed a shallow right turn, followed by a left turn that transitioned into a steep bank angle of approximately 90°. During this maneuver, the aircraft rolled rapidly to the right and descended.
The aircraft impacted a field approximately 850 feet southeast of the runway departure end at an elevation of 2,435 feet mean sea level. The accident resulted in 1 fatality.
The investigation
Investigators found the main wreckage, including the engine, wings, fuselage, and empennage, oriented toward the northeast. Impact signatures indicated the aircraft was in a near wings-level attitude with a shallow descent angle at the time of impact. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the rudder, aileron, and elevator surfaces. A handheld GPS unit was recovered for data analysis, and the wreckage was moved to a secure facility for examination.