Amateur-built MONI MOTORGLIDER accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 4, 1989
On October 4, 1989 at about 10:10 pm local time, a amateur-built MONI MOTORGLIDER, registered N15JZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Sun Dance 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
POWER LOSS DUE TO THE DETERIORATED MUFFLER BAFFLE WHICH WAS NOT DISCOVERED IN THE RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ANALYZE AND CORRECT FOR THE HEADWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1989 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Sun Dance
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MONI MOTORGLIDER MONI MOTOR
- Registration
- N15JZ · no longer on the register · serial 333T
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,041 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,873 as pilot in command; 814 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 1989; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kfm 107E MAXI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HSD Oklahoma City OK at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.