Mooney M20K accident near Orange, Virginia, November 29, 1992
On November 29, 1992 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231JU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orange, Virginia (Orange County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL, AND INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 29, 1992 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Virginia · Orange County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231JU · no longer on the register · serial 309134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT WHICH INCLUDED DRAINING THE FUEL SUMPS, AND RUN UP BEFORE TAKEOFF. DURING CLIMB OUT AT ABOUT 3400 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT COMPLETED THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST WHICH INCLUDED ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, BUT ALL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT REVERSED DIRECTION AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN 100 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A HILL. AN INSPECTION BY THE FAA REVEALED WATER IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.
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: 238 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,380 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1992; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GBI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W93 at 6:00 pm
- Destination: W49 Culpepper VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
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.