Mooney M20J accident near Lanett, Alabama, September 19, 1984
On September 19, 1984 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201RT, was destroyed in an accident near Lanett, Alabama (Lanett Moni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1984 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lanett, Alabama · Lanett Moni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201RT · registry record · serial 240117
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
COMMUNICATIONS WITH COLUMBUS APCH REVEALED PLT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH AREA AND HAD DIFFICULITIES FINDING THE ARPT WITNESSES VIEWED ACFT ON FINAL FOR RWY 08 WITH LANDING GEAR EXTENDED. ACFT DESCRIBED AS BEING LOW AND SLOW. WITNESSES STATED ENGINE SOUNDS FLUCTUATED AND ACFT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT. ACFT IMPACTED A WOODED AREA ABOUT 1/2 MILE WEST OR ARPT. ACFT WRECKAGE WAS CONFINED TO AN AREA APRX 60 FT DIAMETER. BROKEN LIMBS WERE OBSERVED IN TREE APRX 30 FT AGL AND ABOUT 32 FT WEST OF PRINCIPAL IMPACT POINT.
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: 2,550 hours in all; 125 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360A1B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CLT Charlotte NC at 12:50 pm
- Destination: 7A3 Lanett AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 8, 3,150 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from CSG, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.