Mooney M20 accident near Lifou Wanaham, Nc, January 3, 2020
On January 3, 2020 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20, registered FOIAT, was destroyed in an accident near Lifou Wanaham (Ouanaham Airport). It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 4 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2020 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lifou Wanaham, New Caledonia · Ouanaham Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20 J · all M20s on the register
- Registration
- FOIAT · no longer on the register · serial 24-3370
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 3, 2020, about 1430 universal coordinated time, a Mooney M20J, French registration F-OIAT, impacted terrain shortly after departing the Lifou Wanaham Airport (New Caledonia). The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA) of the government of France is investigating the accident. As the state of manufacture of the airplane and engine, the NTSB has designated a US accredited representative to assist the BEA in its investigation. All inquiries concerning this accident should be directed to the BEA: Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'aviation civile 10 rue de Paris Aéroport du Bourget 93352 Le Bourget Cedex France Website: http://www.bea.aero
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
Pilot
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Club Caledonien Henri Martinet
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.