Mooney M20K accident near Peachtree City, Georgia, May 22, 1986
On May 22, 1986 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N98544, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peachtree City, Georgia (Falcon Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 22, 1986 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Peachtree City, Georgia · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N98544 · no longer on the register · serial 25-0535
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT BEGAN TO 'WHEELBARROW' ON THE NOSE GEAR DURING THE LDG ROLL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY INTO A DITCH. THE PLT SAID THAT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE PITCH TRIM SET CORRECTLY AT TOUCHDOWN. THE ACFT FLT MANUAL BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING CAUTION: 'FROM A FLAPS RETRACTED TRIMMED CONDITION, THE REQUIRED NOSE UP PITCH CONTROL FORCE WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE WHEN POWER IS REDUCED TO IDLE AND THE FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED. TIMELY TRIMMING ACTION SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED TO MINIMIZE FORCES.'
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 363 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 287 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 906 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 24, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GB3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HSV Huntsville AL at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 2A9 Peachtree City GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from ATL, 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.