Mooney M20J accident near Crystal, Minnesota, March 7, 1982
On March 7, 1982 at about 6:48 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201WM, was involved in an accident near Crystal, Minnesota (Crystal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- March 7, 1982 · about 6:48 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal, Minnesota · Crystal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201WM · registry record · serial 24-0192
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENG, THE PILOT COULD NOT GET THE STARTER TO ENGAGE. HE ASKED THE PASSENGER TO GET OUT AND ROTATE THE PROPELLER TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN HOPES OF GETTING THE STARTER TO ENGAGE. WITH THE MAGNETOS AND MASTER SWITCH OFF, THE PROP WAS MOVED TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS TWO TIMES, BUT NO LUCK. ON THE THIRD TRY, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE PASSENGER ON THE HEAD AND RIGHT HAND RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY. A CHECK OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES.
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: 576 hours in all; 246 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 366 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 665 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 222 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-AB6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIC Crystal MN
- Destination: MIC Crystal MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from MIC
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.