Mooney M20K accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia, January 20, 1991
On January 20, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N1163D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fredericksburg, Virginia (Shannon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGMENT OF DISTANCE (RUNWAY REMAINING) AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN AND/OR HIS FAILURE TO GO-AROUND WHEN THERE WAS STILL SUFFICIENT SPEED TO DO SO.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Virginia · Shannon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1163D · no longer on the register · serial 250668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 90 KNOTS. HE STATED HE EXTENDED THE GEAR AND 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS, THEN STARTED HIS TURN TO BASE. HE SAID THAT HE REDUCED HIS SPEED TO 80 KNOTS, AND ON FINAL, HE APPLIED FULL FLAPS AND REDUCED SPEED TO 70 KNOTS. HE REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, WENT OFF AN EMBANKMENT, AND COLLIDED WITH A ROAD.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,635 hours in all; 1,110 in this make and model; 1,580 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 360 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1990; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2W5 Indian Head MD at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 2,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.