Monocoupe Aircraft D145 accident near Lafayette, Louisiana, March 19, 1991
On March 19, 1991 at about 8:25 pm local time, a Monocoupe Aircraft D145, registered N17687, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lafayette, Louisiana (Lafayette Regional 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 DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1991 · about 8:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lafayette, Louisiana · Lafayette Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Monocoupe Aircraft D145
- Registration
- N17687 · registry record · serial D-128
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE RIGHT PEDAL AND ONTO THE LEFT CO-PILOT'S PEDAL AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED SLIGHTLY, ROLLED TO THE LEFT, AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO IMPACT THE TERRAIN NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OCCURRED.
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: 1,241 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,147 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,860 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner 145/50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,651 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°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.