Mooney M20J accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts, June 7, 1994
On June 7, 1994 at about 3:44 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N4393H, was destroyed in an accident near Edgartown, Massachusetts (Katama Airpark airport). 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THAT FAILED TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER WHICH LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1994 · about 3:44 pm local time
- Place
- Edgartown, Massachusetts · Katama Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N4393H · registry record · serial 24-0722
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT MANAGER, HE DID NOT WITNESS THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 24 IN A NORMAL MANNER AS HE DID ON MANY OCCASIONS. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY DUE TO THE LOW VISIBILITY. HE SAID IT WAS 1/2 MILE IN FOG. HE STATED THAT HE SAW THE AIRPLANE IN A DESCENDING RIGHT HAND SPIRAL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND ABOUT 300 FEET SOUTHWEST OF RUNWAY 21 AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE PITOT TUBE COVER WAS IN PLACE ON THE PITOT TUBE.
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
- Flight time: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1993
- 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: 1B2
- Destination: OGS Ogdensburg NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from MVY, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N4393H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.