Mooney M20J accident near Waynesboro, Virginia, July 1, 1991
On July 1, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N5809J, was destroyed in an accident near Waynesboro, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSTRESS OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING WAS VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC AND THUNDERSTORMS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesboro, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5809J · no longer on the register · serial 24-1554
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE AT 11,500 FEET AND WAS RECEIVING TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, WHO ADVISED HIM OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION AHEAD. THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT ABOUT 14 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION. ATC ADVISED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE PILOT LATER REPORTED HE HAD ENCOUNTERED RAIN AND TURBULENCE AND THAT HE WAS NOT IN VMC. ATC LOST CONTACT WITH THE AIRPLANE SOON AFTERWARDS. WITNESSES REPORTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WHEN THEY SAW THE AIRPLANE DESCEND AND CRASH. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPLANE HAD AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP; WRECKAGE WAS STREWN A DISTANCE OF ABOUT TWO MILES. THE EXAMINATION DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LNP Wise VA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: SHD Harrisonburg VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from SHD, 999 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.