Amateur-built MONO-FLY accident near Blissfield, Michigan, July 15, 1986
On July 15, 1986, a amateur-built MONO-FLY, registered N84JL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blissfield, Michigan (Betz Field). 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1986
- Place
- Blissfield, Michigan · Betz Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MONO-FLY
- Registration
- N84JL · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN A FORCED LNDG AFTER A POWER LOSS AT 200 FT AGL. THE PLT/OWNER HAD AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH THE ENG QUITTING IN FLT. AFTER GROUND CHECKS & REPAIRS THE ENG WAS GROUND RUN SUCCESSFULLY BUT DURING TEST FLT IT QUIT AGAIN. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RETURN TO THE ARPT BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD AND WAS DAMAGED DURING THE BOUNCING AND WING DRAGGING. THE RT & NOSE GEAR WERE BENT. THE ENG RAN NORMALLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: 207 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 8, 1985; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 733 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah G44BW (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,205 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.