Mooney M-20F accident near Mchenry, Maryland, July 1, 1989
On July 1, 1989 at about 4:06 pm local time, a Mooney M-20F, registered N7784M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mchenry, Maryland (Garrett County airport). 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 PILOT LANDED HARD AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR WHEN HE FAILED TO ARREST HIS DESCENT RATE DURING LANDING. AFTERWARDAS HE TRIED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND THE PILOT DID NOT OBTAIN ADEQUATE FLYING SPEED, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1989 · about 4:06 pm local time
- Place
- Mchenry, Maryland · Garrett County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20F · all M-20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7784M · no longer on the register · serial 22-0032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE THE LNDG APCH WITH FULL FLAPS AT AN AIRSPEED OF APRX 90 KTS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR AT THE RWY THRESHOLD, LANDED HARD, AND BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PLT TRIED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT OR GAIN FLYING SPEED. THE ACFT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND LEFT OF THE RWY. RWY 26 WAS USED. THE LOCAL WINDS WERE REPORTED AT 260 DEGS AT 5 KTS.
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: 167 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,760 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GAI Gaithersburg MD at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,495 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.