Mooney M-20G accident near Monroeville, Pennsylvania, June 12, 2011
On June 12, 2011 at about 9:35 pm local time, a Mooney M-20G, registered N6936N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Monroeville, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh-Monroeville 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 airplane control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2011 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Monroeville, Pennsylvania · Pittsburgh-Monroeville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20G · all M-20Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6936N · no longer on the register · serial 680149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot elected to conduct a soft field takeoff due to rough irregularities in the runway. After fully extending the flaps, the pilot initiated the takeoff run, and the airplane became airborne within 200 to 300 feet. The pilot had difficulty keeping the airplane's pitch attitude low, and upon reaching tree-height the airplane stalled. The airplane descended and rolled to the left. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent, and the airplane impacted the ground and was subsequently consumed by a postimpact fire.
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 lift during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 5,700 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,520 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 4G0 Monroeville PA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: CRW Charelston WV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 05, 2,280 ft by 28 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from AGC, 9 miles away
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.
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.