Monocoupe Aircraft 90AL-115 accident near St. Paul, Missouri, June 19, 2004
On June 19, 2004 at about 11:06 pm local time, a Monocoupe Aircraft 90AL-115, registered N1161, was destroyed in an accident near St. Paul, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the terrain while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2004 · about 11:06 pm local time
- Place
- St. Paul, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Monocoupe Aircraft 90AL-115
- Registration
- N1161 · no longer on the register · serial 862
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain while maneuvering during a local area flight. Primary aircraft radar track returns were used to reconstruct the accident flight because the airplane was not equipped with a transponder. No altitude information was available with primary radar data. The plotted data showed the accident airplane performing several 180-degree turns within a 1.4 nm square area. The airplane's calculated ground speed varied between 74 and 146 knots during the series of 180-degree turns. The data indicated that the ground speed decreased to approximately 75 knots when the airplane was turning. The ground speed increased to 111-146 knots during the straight flight paths between turns. An on-site survey of the wreckage determined that all primary airframe structural components, flight control systems and powerplant components were present. Flight control cables were inspected and all breaks were consistent with an overload failure. No discrepancies were found with the airframe, flight control systems, engine or propeller that could be associated with a pre-impact malfunction.
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: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,610 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner 185J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1H0 Maryland Height MO at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 1H0 MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from SET, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.