Mooney M20/231 accident near Stockton, Missouri, October 19, 1990
On October 19, 1990 at about 2:45 am local time, a Mooney M20/231, registered N1002X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stockton, Missouri (Stockton Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VSO (MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE AIRSPEED) IN A LANDING CONFIGURATION. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1990 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Stockton, Missouri · Stockton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20/231 · all M20/231s on the register
- Registration
- N1002X · registry record · serial 25-0556
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE SAW TREES ABOUT 20 FEET BELOW THE AIRPLANE WHILE ON A NIGHT LANDING APPROACH. HE SAID THAT HE PITCHED THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE UP TO INCREASE THE CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES AND IMMEDIATELY HEARD THE STALL WARNING HORN. HE ADDED POWER, AND THEN 'CUT POWER' AS HE REACHED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ITS RAPID RATE OF DESCENT AND LANDED HARD. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE HAD ELECTED TO DO A GO-AROUND, OR IF HE HAD NOT PITCHED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE UPWARDS.
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: 878 hours in all; 834 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 779 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-LB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IOW Iowa City IA at 1:05 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 3,060 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.