Mooney M-20C accident near Monticello, Georgia, September 13, 2003
On September 13, 2003 at about 1:28 pm local time, a Mooney M-20C, registered N2764W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monticello, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC conditions, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance and collision with trees. A factor was low ceiling.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2003 · about 1:28 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20C · all M-20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2764W · no longer on the register · serial 3354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While flying VFR with no flight plan, the airplane, collided with trees while searching for a private grass landing strip in Monticello, Georgia. According to a witness who was jogging in the area, the visibility was very poor due to fog. He said he could hear, but barely see the airplane flying above him at a low altitude. After passing overhead the airplane headed toward a wooded hill and he heard the airplane crash into the wooded area. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were sky condition overcast at 100 feet in fog, visibility 3 statute miles, wind calm, temperature 22-degrees Celsius, dew point 21-degrees Celsius, and altimeter 30.13 inches of mercury. Examination of the engine, airframe, and flight controls revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. All components necessary for flight were present at the crash site.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 480 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA at 12:50 pm
- Destination: PVT Monticello GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from MCN, 30 miles away
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.