Mooney M-20K accident near Buffalo, Minnesota, November 18, 1983
On November 18, 1983 at about 1:20 am local time, a Mooney M-20K, registered N9644B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buffalo, Minnesota (Buffalo Muni airport). It was a business 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 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
- November 18, 1983 · about 1:20 am local time
- Place
- Buffalo, Minnesota · Buffalo Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20K · all M-20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N9644B · no longer on the register · serial 25-0527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING AN APPROACH ON A DARK NIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND THE PLT CANCELED HIS IFR FLT PLAN 15 MILES EAST OF THE ARPT. THE PLT APPROACHED THE ARPT IN A NORMAL VFR PATTERN BUT ON FINAL APPROACH HE GOT AN ILLUSION FROM THE LIGHTS THAT HE WAS CLOSER THAN HE ACTUALLY WAS ACCORDING TO HIS STATEMENT. BECAUSE OF THE SHORT RWY (2600 FT) HE MADE A LOW APPROACH AND CONTACTED TREES AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL.
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: 1,779 hours in all; 509 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 1,682 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BWG Bowling Green KY at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: -2°F (-19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.