Mooney M20K accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, March 7, 2020
On March 7, 2020 at about 4:43 am local time, a 1979 Mooney M20K, registered N3928H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near New Orleans, Louisiana (Louis Armstrong New Orleans In airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to turn the airplane from the runway onto the taxiway at an excessive speed, which resulted in a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and collision with a taxiway sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2020 · about 4:43 am local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Louis Armstrong New Orleans In · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K No Series, built 1979 · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N3928H · registry record · serial 25-0220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the air traffic tower controller requested that he "keep up the speed" and execute a "close approach" before landing. During the landing roll at night, the pilot attempted to exit the runway at an excessive speed, and the airplane "began to tilt to the right." He tried to steer the airplane back to the runway, but the airplane exited the runway and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6.3 hours in all; 40.9 in this make and model; 18.5 in the last 90 days; 5.5 in the last 30 days; 47.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 4, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-6BCL (piston); 1,227 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFM Mobile AL at 2:15 am
- Destination: MSY New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 02, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from KMSY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 7, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.