Amateur-built MONI accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, June 18, 1995
On June 18, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MONI, registered N787DD, was destroyed in an accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts (Pittsfield Municipal). 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 pilot's failure to maintain/regain control of the aircraft during the simulated engine-out procedure while on approach to landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Pittsfield Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MONI
- Registration
- N787DD · registry record · serial 00185
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS ACCUMULATING TIME ON A NEWLY INSTALLED ENGINE, AND THAT HE WAS PRACTICING ENGINE-OUT APPROACHES AND LANDINGS. DURING ONE ENGINE-OUT APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, PITCHED NOSE DOWN, AND IMPACTED TREES. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT JUST PRIOR TO THE IMPACT THEY HEARD THE ENGINE RESTART. RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BUILT OVER A YEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND THERE WAS NO RECORD OF AN AIRWORTHINESS/ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE ENGINE HAD ABOUT 5 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE WOODEN PROPELLER WAS SHATTERED. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS SHOWED THAT THE PILOT'S BLOOD CONTAINED 0.081 MCG/ML PROPOXYPHENE(DARVON) AND 0.428 MCG/ML NORPROPOXYPHENE(METABOLITE OF PROPOXYPHENE). THIS DRUG IS NOT APPROVED FOR USE WHILE FLYING.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 353 hours in all; 23 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kfm 107ER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSF MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ALB, 30 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.