Mooney M20K accident near Langhorne, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1985
On December 15, 1985 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Langhorne, Pennsylvania (Buehl Field). 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 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
- December 15, 1985 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Langhorne, Pennsylvania · Buehl Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231A · registry record · serial 25-0645
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT COLLIDED WITH MARKED BUT UNLIGHTED TRANSMISSION LINES 670 FT FM RWY THRESHOLD. THE LINES ARE 81 FT ABOVE THE THRESHOLD ELEVATION AND ARE MARKED BUT UNLIGHTED. THEY ARE ALSO 1193 FT FROM THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL OR PILOT CERTIFICATE. INSULIN AND CHLOROTHIAZIDE WERE FOUND IN THE PILOTS PERSONAL EFFECTS WITNESSES DID NOT RECALL SEEING ACFT LDG LIGHTS DISPLAYED PRIOR TO THE LINE COLLISION ALTHOUGH EVIDENCE OF ELECTRICAL AVAILABILITY WAS FOUND.
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: student
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,566 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1985; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACY Atlantic City NJ at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,125 ft by 49 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from PNE, 8 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.