Amateur-built MONI accident near Silsbee, Texas, October 13, 1987
On October 13, 1987 at about 10:50 pm local time, a amateur-built MONI, registered N19MW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Silsbee, Texas (Hawthorne Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- October 13, 1987 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Silsbee, Texas · Hawthorne Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MONI
- Registration
- N19MW · no longer on the register · serial 00195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PLT TRIED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. HOWEVER, AS HE WAS SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL, THE ACFT STALLED & BEGAN TO SPIN. HE INITIATED CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE FILTER SCREEN WAS ABOUT 75% CLOGGED WITH A CARBON LIKE MATERIAL WHICH RESTRICTED THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENG. THE PLT/OWNER/BUILDER WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS FUEL SCREEN, WHICH WAS INSTALLED BEHIND THE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE, INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. HE HAD INSTALLED ANOTHER IN-LINE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS CLEAN. THE HOME BUILT ACFT HAD 50 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME & HAD FLOWN ONLY 9 HRS SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPN.
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: 139 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 139 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 1987; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 560 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kfm 107E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 45R at 10:50 pm
- Destination: BPT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from BPT, 25 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.