Mooney M20C accident near Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1993
On November 30, 1993 at about 7:43 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N1377W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PREPARATIONS, PLANNING AND DECISIONS. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 1993 · about 7:43 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesburg, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1377W · no longer on the register · serial 2658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL AND WAS FLOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BY THE ACCIDENT PILOT. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO A DESTINATION LOCATED 709 NAUTICAL MILES AWAY, WITH NO PLANNED FUEL STOPS. ABOUT 5.5 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING ABOUT 652 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE POINT. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL WAS FOUND ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE OR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT MANUAL, PERFORMANCE SECTION, THE ENDURANCE OF THE AIRPLANE IS 5.2 HOURS WITH FULL FUEL, 75 PERCENT POWER, AND 2,500 FEET MSL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 9,737 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,035 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34J New Smyrna Bch. FL at 2:20 pm
- Destination: 3G9 Butler Farm PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from AFJ, 25 miles away
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.