Monocoupe 90AL-115 accident near Myakka City, Florida, October 14, 2023
On October 14, 2023 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1949 Monocoupe 90AL-115, registered N87621, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Myakka City, Florida (Pvt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a fence during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2023 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Myakka City, Florida · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Monocoupe 90AL-115, built 1949 · all 90AL-115s on the register
- Registration
- N87621 · registry record · serial 869
- 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 he had erected barbed wire fences on both sides of his private airstrip to keep cows off the runway. During takeoff, he veered left and struck the fence. The airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,150 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,610 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,400 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from SRQ, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSRQ 141453Z 32008G19KT 10SM SCT023 28/22 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP121 T02780217 52004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 16, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.