Mooney M20G accident near Painesvile, Ohio, November 30, 1986
On November 30, 1986 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20G, registered N3683N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Painesvile, Ohio (Casement airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people 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
- November 30, 1986 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Painesvile, Ohio · Casement · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20G · all M20Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3683N · no longer on the register · serial M20G
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE CONDUCTING A PLEASURE FLT. FOLLOWING THE FAILURE, THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT FAILED. AT THIS POINT THE ACFT WAS ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTH OF CASEMENT ARPT. THE REPORTED WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 25 KTS AND THE INITIAL PROBLEM STARTED AT APRX 2900 FT AGL. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE ARPT NEAR A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME AND ACFT COMPONENTS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY FAILURE. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY, BUT THERE WAS FUEL FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE RIGHT POSITION. THE TEMP/DEW POINT WAS 38/28 DEGREES (F) RESPECTIVELY.
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: 256 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 1986; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNN Willoughby OH at 8:15 pm
- Destination: LNN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from LNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.