Mooney M-20G accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, March 8, 1987
On March 8, 1987 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Mooney M-20G, registered N3960N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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 8, 1987 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20G · all M-20Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3960N · no longer on the register · serial 680067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON DOWNWIND LEG THE PILOT HEARD ANOTHER AIRCRAFT CALL DOWNWIND. WHEN HE TURNED TO FINAL THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TURNED BASE. AS HE DESCENDED ON FINAL APPROACH THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TURNED SHARPLY INSIDE THE ACFT ON FINAL AND LANDED. THE FOLLOWING AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO INCREASE THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO ACFT. A PERSON ON THE GROUND RECEIVED A SORE NECK ATTEMPTING TO AVOID BEING HIT BY THE FALLING POWER LINES.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 138 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 1,897 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,525 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSN Madison WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MKE, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.