Mooney M20E accident near Pell City, Alabama, June 5, 1986
On June 5, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N1308W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pell City, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 5, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pell City, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N1308W · no longer on the register · serial 196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG LOST PWR AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE APRX 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT, PRIOR TO DEPARTURE HE VISUALLY EXAMINED THE FUEL TANKS AND ESTIMATED HAVING APRX 9 GALS TOTAL FUEL ONBOARD. HE ESTIMATED THAT ONLY 5 GALS WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE FLT TO THE DESTINATION ARPT WHERE HE PLANNED TO REFUEL. THE PLT SWITCHED TANKS AFTER THE INITIAL PWR LOSS, AND THE ENG REGAINED PWR AND RAN FOR APRX 1 MINUTE BEFORE LOSING PWR AGAIN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED APRX 1 1/2 GALS FUEL REMAINED IN ONE TANK AND THE OTHER TANK WAS EMPTY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE.
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: 585 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 520 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1986; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMH Birmingham AL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PLR Pell City AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.