Mooney M20K accident near Carrollton, Georgia, October 13, 2003
On October 13, 2003 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N4085H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrollton, Georgia (Lyons Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2003 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carrollton, Georgia · Lyons Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N4085H · registry record · serial 25-0461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was the airplane's first flight since the installation of a new engine. During cruise flight, the engine suddenly stopped producing power, and the propeller wind-milled. The pilot's attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful. During forced landing to a small, uneven field, the airplane collided with the ground. Test bench examination of the magnetos and ignition harnesses revealed the components functioned to factory specifications. Test bench flow examinations of the throttle body fuel control, fuel pump, fuel manifold valve, lines and nozzles revealed the components functioned to factory specifications. Disassembly examination of the engine and accessories revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunction.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,058 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 2003; 0.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental TSIO-360-LB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5GA2 Whitesburg GA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from KCCO, 17 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.