Amateur-built MONNETT SONERAI II accident near Arab, Missouri, October 6, 1986
On October 6, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built MONNETT SONERAI II, registered N44KC, was destroyed in an accident near Arab, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 6, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arab, Missouri
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MONNETT SONERAI II MONNETT SO
- Registration
- N44KC · registry record · serial 00291
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD CAPACITY FOR TEN GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL, AND THAT HE FLEW FOR LESS THAT AN HOUR BEFORE LANDING AT COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE SIGHT GAUGES WERE NOT ACCURATE ON THE GROUND AND HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE TANKS SINCE HE THOUGHT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO FLY TO POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI. THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE AT CRUISE 25NM SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AND THE PILOT LANDED IN TREE TOPS AND NOSED INTO THE GROUND AFTER MANEUVERING TO A FORCED LANDING. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE TANK, FUEL LINES, NOR FUEL STRAINER.
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: 164 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1984; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 7579 EVA-1600 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H49 Columbia IL at 9:20 pm
- Destination: POF Poplar Bluff MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from CGI, 26 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.