Gary L. Zeigler Monnett Moni accident near Sevierville, TN
On April 6, 2002, a Gary L. Zeigler Monnett Moni (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sevierville, TN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 6, 2002
- Place
- Sevierville, TN
- Aircraft
- Gary L. Zeigler Monnett Moni · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 35.858°N, 83.539°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020412X00501
Official records · MIA02LA080
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 6, 2002, about 0950 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Monnett Moni, N10GZ, registered to a private individual, crashed in a wooded area approximately 1/2 nautical mile west of the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport, Sevierville, Tennessee, shortly after takeoff. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight originated about 1 minute earlier. Before the flight departed the pilot was observed to change the two spark plugs and reported to an individual that he wasn't feeling well. A witness reported that when the airplane was taking off, "his [engine] was missing." Another witness who was watching the airplane takeoff reported it appeared to him that the airplane wasn't gaining any altitude. When the airplane was at the departure end of the runway, it appeared that the pilot was attempting to "turn around." Still another witness reported seeing the airplane, "began to bank to the left almost as if the plane had stalled. The plane made a very sharp turn and headed straight down." (See witness statements.) A student pilot who was at the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport for a solo cross-country flight reported that while performing an engine run-up, he observed the accident airplane taxi into position behind his airplane. He (student pilot) completed his run-up and taxied his airplane to the approach end of runway 28 to have all available runway for takeoff. Whil
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed while turning to reverse direction resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the failure of the pilot to tighten the spark plugs resulting in the partial loss of engine power.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
