Mooney M20E accident near Georgetown, South Carolina, November 18, 1989
On November 18, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N1253X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE STUDENT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N1253X · no longer on the register · serial 126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING AND VEERED OFF OF THE RUNWAY. THE FLIGHT WAS HIS FIRST SOLO. CONTROL WAS REGAINED BYUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FIRST SOLO. CONTROL WAS REGAINED BUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BERM WHICH WAS LEFT FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DRAINAGE DITCH. THE AIRPLANE THEN NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. HIS REPORT LISTED 17 TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS AND NO NFLIGHT HOURS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 470 hours in all; 396 in this make and model; 337 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1989; 4 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: CRE N. Myrtle Beach SC at 7:35 pm
- Destination: VNC Venice FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from CHS, 35 miles away
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.