Probable cause
Operation of the airplane by a non-certificated pilot and his failure to maintain airplane control.
NTSB analysis
A witness stated that he was mowing his grass when an airplane crashed in his front yard. The pilot exited the airplane and instructed him not to notify the police. The pilot left the scene and returned a short time later with another individual and a forklift. The airplane was removed from the residence and taken to a storage facility without authorization from law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), or the NTSB. FAA inspectors were unable to locate the wreckage for inspection. Review of FAA records showed that the registration had been canceled by the previous owner and transferred to the new owner. According to the police report and the witness report, the person flying the airplane at the time of the accident was the new owner of the airplane. Review of FAA records revealed no pilot certification for the operator of the accident airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA11LA501 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 18, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Monmouth, Maine
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-22-108
- N-number
- N5048Z
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.