Amateur-built Moni-Motorglider 032 accident near Glens Falls, New York, May 11, 2003
On May 11, 2003 at about 10:12 am local time, a amateur-built Moni-Motorglider 032, registered N20909, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glens Falls, New York (Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport). It was a flight test 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 pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the excessive taxi speed, and the inadvertent lift off.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2003 · about 10:12 am local time
- Place
- Glens Falls, New York · Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Moni-Motorglider 032
- Registration
- N20909 · no longer on the register · serial 032MG-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting a "high speed taxi test" when the airplane unexpectedly became airborne, about 1,000 feet down the runway. As the airplane approached the end of the runway, at an altitude of 100 feet, and "marginal airspeed," the pilot initiated a left turn to return to the airport. During the turn, the airplane stalled, and impacted the ground in a steep, nose-down attitude. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
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: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 560 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental 4A032-III (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GFL at 6:10 am
- Destination: GFL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from GFL
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.