Mooney M20J accident near Mc Kinnon, Tennessee, June 28, 2012
On June 28, 2012 at about 4:47 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N174JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Mc Kinnon, Tennessee (Houston County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The separation of the piston connecting rod from the crankshaft due to inadequate installation from a mechanic, resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2012 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- Mc Kinnon, Tennessee · Houston County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N174JB · registry record · serial 24-0954
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a formation flight when the airplane’s engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot and his instructor then conducted a forced landing to a runway and landed long, with the airplane departing the surface and coming to rest in a field. Post accident examination revealed that the number three piston connecting rod cap separated from the piston connecting rod when the hardware came loose and the connecting rod disconnected during flight. Maintenance records showed that the engine had been overhauled several years prior to the accident. It is likely that the mechanic did not properly install the connecting rod bolts and nuts, which resulted in the number three piston connecting rod disconnecting during flight, and subsequent 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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 32 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 19, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,857 hours in all; 2,386 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,824 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 2011; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0-360A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M33 Gallatin TN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: M93 Mc Kinnon TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 3,000 ft by 914 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from HOP, 29 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.