Mooney M-18C-55 accident near Camden, Ohio, November 1, 1987
On November 1, 1987 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Mooney M-18C-55, registered N4157, was destroyed in an accident near Camden, Ohio (Mite Airfield). 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
- November 1, 1987 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Camden, Ohio · Mite Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-18C-55 · all M-18C-55s on the register
- Registration
- N4157 · no longer on the register · serial 323
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF DOWNWIND AND DID NOT USE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY. WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER WITHIN THE ALTITUDE REMAINING AND COLLIDED WITH AN ONCOMING TRAIN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,488 hours in all; 279 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1,175 as pilot in command; 224 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: OSU Columbus OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DAY, 27 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.
Other NTSB records under N4157 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.