Mooney M20J accident near Moncks Corner, South Carolina, April 24, 2009
On April 24, 2009 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201JT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Moncks Corner, South Carolina (Berkeley County 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 reported partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2009 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Moncks Corner, South Carolina · Berkeley County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201JT · no longer on the register · serial 24-0951
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following an uneventful 3-hour flight, the airplane was fueled. The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, but did not take fuel samples from either wing tank or fuel strainer. Prior to takeoff the pilot performed an engine run-up with no discrepancies noted. During takeoff with full fuel tanks and the fuel selector positioned to the right tank, the engine began to miss momentarily when the flight was 20 feet above ground level (agl), though the engine gauges did not reflect the discrepancy. The engine then smoothed out with no corrective action taken by the pilot and the flight continued climbing to a maximum of approximately 50 feet agl. At that time the engine began to run rough and the airplane was not climbing. The plot aborted the takeoff and executed an on-airport forced landing, colliding with a fence during the landing roll. No fuel contamination was noted in the airplane fuel system or from the source that fueled the airplane. Impact-damaged components were removed and replaced and the engine was started and found to operate normally. No determination could be made as to the reason for the reported loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,104 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,001 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 30, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,992 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER A&C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKS Moncks Corner SC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ZPH Zephyrhills FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 4,351 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from MKS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N201JT 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.