Mooney M20F accident near Johnstown, New York, May 27, 1992
On May 27, 1992 at about 2:23 am local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N9541M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Johnstown, New York (Johnstown Fulton CO airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A LANDING UNDERSHOOD. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1992 · about 2:23 am local time
- Place
- Johnstown, New York · Johnstown Fulton CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9541M · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH FOR A LANDING AFTER COMPLETING A VFR NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LANDING GEAR WAS LOWERED AND FULL FLAPS WERE SELECTED. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HIS AIRSPEED 'DROPPED TO 80 KNOTS' WHILE HE WAS ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, AT WHICH TIME HE ADDED MORE POWER TO 'KEEP MY NOSE UP'. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD.
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: 922 hours in all; 436 in this make and model; 922 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,984 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 24, 1991; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GTN Groton CT at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from SCH, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.