Smith MONNETT MONI accident near Cheraw, South Carolina, June 21, 1995
On June 21, 1995 at about 11:04 pm local time, a Smith MONNETT MONI, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3257W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cheraw, South Carolina (Cheraw Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for unknown reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain flying speed, which resulted in impact with the ground while the airplane was in a stalled condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1995 · about 11:04 pm local time
- Place
- Cheraw, South Carolina · Cheraw Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith MONNETT MONI MONNETT MO, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3257W · no longer on the register · serial 5
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESS REPORTS INDICATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN SPUTTERING. THE AIRPLANE WAS TURNED DOWNWIND TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. AS THE TURN TO THE BASE LEG WAS MADE, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND PITCHED NOSE DOWN. IT IMPACTED IN A VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT WAS INCONCLUSIVE. ANOTHER PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, HE AND THE PILOT DISCUSSED THE FUEL/OIL MIXTURE THAT WAS BEING USED FOR THE TWO CYCLE ENGINE. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE FUEL MIXTURE HE WAS USING MAY HAVE BEEN TOO LEAN.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,710 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 146 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kfm 107E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 47J at 10:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from FLO, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.