Mooney M20D accident near Cumberland Is., Georgia, March 28, 1992
On March 28, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20D, registered N1975Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cumberland Is., Georgia (Cumberland Is. 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 LOSS OF THE SPARK PLUG AT A CRITICAL POINT IN FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED FROM THE INADEQUATE OVERHAUL OF THE ENGINE BY AN UNKNOWN PERSON; AND THE INADVERTENT STALL OF THE AIRPLANE WHEN THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) WHICH BOUNDED THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE THRESHOLD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cumberland Is., Georgia · Cumberland Is. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20D · all M20Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1975Y · no longer on the register · serial 240
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 60-70 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF, THE ENGINE RPM DECREASED. HARDWOOD TREES BOUNDED THE RUNWAY DEPARTURE THRESHOLD & THE PILOT ELECTED TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE STALLED, DRAGGED THE RIGHT WING TIP, & COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT & THAT THE CYLINDER SPARK PLUG HOLE WAS FITTED WITH A HELICOIL.
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: 895 hours in all; 386 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,770 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,500 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from SSI, 15 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.
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.