Mooney M20B accident near Winfield, Kansas, August 18, 1990
On August 18, 1990 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20B, registered N74745, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winfield, Kansas (Strother Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
NON-COMPLIANCE OF AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1990 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Winfield, Kansas · Strother Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B · all M20Bs on the register
- Registration
- N74745 · registry record · serial 1745
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE SHOWED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR RETRACTING TRUSS FAILED AT A WELD, ALLOWING THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE FAILED PART HAS BEEN OBSOLETE SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF AD 73-21-01 WHICH DIRECTED REPLACEMENT OF RETRACTING LINKS ON MODEL M20 AIRPLANES AND REFERRED TO MOONEY SERVICE BULLETIN M20-155. THE BULLETIN FURTHER SPECIFIES THAT THIS AIRCRAFT BY SERIAL NUMBER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE RETRACTING TRUSSES TO UTILIZE THE NEW LINKS. THE AIRFRAME LOG SHOWED THE AD SIGNED OFF WITH 'NEW RETRACT LINKS' INSTALLED. RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE GEAR TRUSSES WERE ALSO ORIGINAL AND OBSOLETE.
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: 232 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3A4 Augusta KS at 10:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,510 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 21 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from ICT, 35 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.