# NTSB LAX87DUG03: Frimelt Werner Moni 164, N189L, Lake Riverside, CA, April 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: April 25, 1987, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Lake Riverside, CA
- Location: 33.5187° N, 116.8121° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Riverside, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5187&lon=-116.8121&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25298
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87DUG03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25298/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87DUG03

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - fuel system,fuel shutoff - binding(mechanical) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

JUST AFTER TAKE OFF OF A HOMEBUILT, EXPERIMENTAL ACFT, A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT AT APRX 150 FT AGL INITIATE A 15 DEG TURN TO THE RIGHT. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN SLIGHTLY AND BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE, THEN ABRUPTLY ENTERED A SPIN AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL VALVE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION. THE PLT ALSO MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE ACFT HAD HAD CHOKE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST THAT CAUSED THE ENG TO QUIT IN FLT, BUT WAS RESTARTED BEFORE AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE. THE PLT FOUND THAT THE CHOKE WAS STICKING. AFTER THE PLT REROUTED IT HE SAID THAT 'IT SEEMED TO WORK BETTER, BUT IT NEVER DID WORK CORRECTLY.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N189L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N189L-2013-07-30), registration cancelled 2013-07-30, S/N 164 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FRIMELT WERNER MONI 164
- Registry model: [Frimelt Werner MONI](https://openairdocs.org/model/frimelt-werner-moni) (registry code 056592G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 164
- Airframe hours: 10
- Engines: KFM 107E 20 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Stephen Duffin
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1986, 25 hours before
- Departed: AGUANGA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 201 total, 40 in this make and model, 181 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870425011599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870425011599A), Apr 25, 1987: Amtr MONI, Lake Riverside, CA, Destroyed. The motor glider spun into the ground shortly after liftoff. Suspect engine problem. Pilot does not recall events.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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