Mooney M20E accident near Weirton, West Virginia, June 30, 1989
On June 30, 1989 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N1950Y, was destroyed in an accident near Weirton, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER IN THE FUEL AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1989 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Weirton, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N1950Y · registry record · serial 257
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT THE PREFLIGHT INCLUDED DRAINING FUEL TO CHECK FOR WATER AND NONE WAS FOUND. HE STATED THAT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, SHORTLY AFTER HE LEVELED AT 2300 FT MSL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON WOODED TERRAIN AND THE ACFT STRUCK SEVERAL TREES BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED WATER IN THE FUEL INJECTION SERVO UNIT, FUEL STRAINER AND ELECTRIC BOOST FUEL PUMP. THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS USED DURING THE FLIGHT AND IT RUPTURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. ABOUT 2 OUNCES OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT FULL BEFORE THE FLIGHT AND THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT IN ABOUT A MONTH.
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: 580 hours in all; 560 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 535 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,552 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1988; 11 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: P64 Burgettstown PA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: TSO Carrollton OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PIT, 18 miles away
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.