Mooney 20F accident near Campobello, South Carolina, December 28, 2003
On December 28, 2003 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Mooney 20F, registered N2996L, was destroyed in an accident near Campobello, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for an emergency landing resulting in an inadvertent stall and a collision with trees and the ground during an uncontrolled descent. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2003 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Campobello, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney 20F
- Registration
- N2996L · no longer on the register · serial 670355
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot obtained fuel before departing on the cross country flight. Two witnesses on the ground heard and observed the airplane approaching their location. The airplane was about 100 to 200 feet above the trees. One witnesses stated the airplanes engine was heard to increase in power, decrease in power, and increase in power again. The other witnesses stated the engine was making a popping sound, while the engine was cutting in and out. The airplane was observed to make a steep right turn and the right wing was perpendicular to the ground. The nose of the airplane pitched down and the airplane disappeared from view. The Flight Manual states the airplane will stall at 98 MPH without extended flaps at a 60-degree bank angle. Examination of the crash site revealed the right main fuel cap tab was secured. The left main fuel cap tab was in the open position. Examination of the airframe and engine assembly revealed no anomalies.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,770 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,323 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OH29 Petersburg OH at 3:15 pm
- Destination: 24J Live Oak FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from GSP, 23 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.