Mooney M20J accident near Smithville, Ohio, September 5, 2006
On September 5, 2006 at about 4:44 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N1172U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithville, Ohio. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The altitude/ clearance not maintained by the pilot during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2006 · about 4:44 pm local time
- Place
- Smithville, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N1172U · no longer on the register · serial 24-1631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted terrain during a cross country personal flight. During taxi from the departure airport, the airplane was involved in a pilot deviation when it taxied without authorization onto a runway. The airplane impacted a grass field leaving a series of propeller slash marks of increasing separation before becoming airborne again, impacting a wire fence near the field that contained the slash marks. Damage to the propeller blades was consistent with engine power. The airplane then became airborne for approximately 0.3 miles before it impacted a corn field. The airplane flaps and landing gear were retracted. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 991 hours in all; 764 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 991 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-360-A3B6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTV Burlington VT at 12:48 pm
- Destination: MFD Mansfield OH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BJJ, 8 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.
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.