Amateur-built MONARAI accident near Yermo, California, September 4, 1989
On September 4, 1989 at about 4:15 pm local time, a amateur-built MONARAI (glider), registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yermo, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND INADVERTENTLY ENTERED INTO A STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1989 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Yermo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MONARAI
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER WAS TOWED ALOFT BY A GROUND VEHICLE. WHEN THE GLIDER WAS ABOUT 200 FT AGL THE PILOT RELEASED THE TOW LONE. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE GLIDER THEN TURNED TO THE NORTH, AND ITS AIRSPEED BEGAN TO DECELERATE SLOWLY. IT ENTERED A FLAT SPIN AND CRASHED. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, AND ALL MAJOR COMPONENTS WERE FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from DAG, 8 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.