Mooney M20A accident near Middlefield, Ohio, June 19, 1987
On June 19, 1987 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Mooney M20A, registered N8391E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middlefield, Ohio (Geauga County airport). 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
- June 19, 1987 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Middlefield, Ohio · Geauga County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20A · all M20As on the register
- Registration
- N8391E · no longer on the register · serial 1569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STRUCK A FENCE DURING A FORCED LDG, FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE PWR IN FLIGHT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TOPPED OFF BOTH MAIN FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE AT ABOUT 4000 FT MSL, HE SMELLED FUEL FUMES IN THE COCKPIT. HE OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE FOR THE TANK IN USE WAS INDICATING 1/2 FULL. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY LOST POWER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. EFFORTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE BY TURNING ON THE BOOST PUMP AND SWITCHING TANKS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE ACFT BY THE FAA REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A FUEL GASCOLATOR LEAK. THE GASCOLATOR GASKETS APPEARED TO BE HOMEMADE. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND TO EXIST IN THE REST OF THE FUEL SYSTEM OR THE ENGINE. THE ACFT HAD ACQUIRED 2 HRS FLT TIME SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL, WHICH WAS ACCOMPLISHED 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED THE ANNUAL REPORTED THAT HE HAD DISASSEMBLED AND CLEANED THE GASCOLATOR PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE INSPECTION.
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: 970 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1987; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKL Cleveland OH at 3:35 pm
- Destination: W66 Midland VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.