Mooney M20F accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina, March 6, 1985
On March 6, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N6399Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Hill, South Carolina. 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
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
- March 6, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6399Q · no longer on the register · serial 670482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR FLT, THE PLT REPORTED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE AIRFRAME. PWR WAS REDUCED IN AN ATTEMPT TO LESSEN THE VIBRATION AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A TOTAL LOSS OF PWR WAS EXPERIENCED AND THE PLT ESTABLISHED A GLIDE TO THE NEAREST LANDING AREA. DURING THE APCH, THE PLT STATED, THE AIRSPEED WAS EXCESSIVE AND HE OVERSHOT THE INTENDED LANDING AREA RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG DISCLOSED THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED. LAB ANALYSIS OF THE SHAFT INDICATED THE FRACTURE WAS A FATIGUE FAILURE.
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: 595 hours in all; 394 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gastonia NC at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Rock Hill SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.