# NTSB MIA83FA178: Gilbert L. Houston Moni, N64GM, Vero Beach, FL, July 8, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1983, 12:25 local (16:25 UTC)
- Place: Vero Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 27.640121, -80.390129 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6401&lon=-80.3901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83FA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30793/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83FA178

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT MADE A LOCAL FLT FROM THE INDIAN RIVER AERODROME TO THE NEW HIBISCUS ARPT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES AT NEW HIBISCUS, THE ACFT WAS IN A NOSE HI ATTITUDE WHEN THEY SAW IT TURN ONTO BASE & FINAL APCH. AFTER TURNING FINAL, THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN, TURNING ABOUT 2 1/2 TIMES, THEN CRASHED. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & WAS HOSPITALIZED 42 DAYS BEFORE DYING WITH PNEUMONIA. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT, MECHANCAL MALFUNCTON OR FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. CONSTRUCTION HAD JUST RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED ON THE HOME BUILT ACFT. THE PLT HAD ONLY 1.7 HRS FLT TIME IN THE ACFT WHEN IT CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N64GM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GILBERT L. HOUSTON MONI
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 64
- Airframe hours: 2
- Engines: ITAL-AMERICAN KFM 107 25 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Gilbert L. Houston
- Departed: 73X, VERO BEACH, FL
- Airport: X52, New Hibiscus, runway 36, 3,300 × 160 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 62 total, 2 in this make and model, 29 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 6 nm away

## 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 19830708030019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830708030019A), Jul 8, 1983: Amtr MONI, Vero Beach, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft stalled and entered spin after turning final for landing. Pilot later reported turbulence over crash site.

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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