Amateur-built RV4 accident near Monroe City, Missouri, July 25, 2011
On July 25, 2011 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built RV4, registered N20JE, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Monroe City, Missouri (Capt. Ben Smith Airfield - Mon). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2011 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe City, Missouri · Capt. Ben Smith Airfield - Mon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV4
- Registration
- N20JE · registry record · serial 20
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that before the airplane descended to an intermediate cruise altitude, he selected carburetor heat and noted a normal decrease in engine speed. He then deselected carburetor heat and descended to 5,500 feet mean sea level. About 20 minutes after the descent, the engine ran rough and subsequently lost power. The pilot was unable to regain engine power by changing fuel tanks and he performed a forced landing to a corn field. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The conditions about the time of the accident were conducive to carburetor icing at glide power. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › (general) › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 6,120 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 9, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 2, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2TS6 Midlothian TX at 1:20 pm
- Destination: K52 Monroe City MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,515 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from UIN, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.