Mooney M20K accident near Burlington, Wisconsin, August 31, 1991
On August 31, 1991 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N9514R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Wisconsin (Burlington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S EXCEEDING THE AIRPLANE'S LICENSED GROSS WEIGHT AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1991 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Wisconsin · Burlington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N9514R · no longer on the register · serial 25-0484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRPLANE AT LEAST 190 POUNDS OVER THE AIRPLANE'S GROSS LICENSED WEIGHT IN GUSTY CROSSWINDS. HE ESTIMATES HE REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF 100-200 FEET BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE AIRPLANE CLIMB ANY HIGHER. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND ELECTED TO LAND IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DISCLOSED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL DEFECTS.
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: 1,250 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1991; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GRI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NEW New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 29, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from MKE, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9514R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.