Mooney M20J accident near Monroe, North Carolina, June 19, 2018
On June 19, 2018 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1977 Mooney M20J, registered N201FD, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Monroe, North Carolina (Charlotte-Monroe Executive 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
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2018 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, North Carolina · Charlotte-Monroe Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J NO SERIES, built 1977 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201FD · registry record · serial 24-0168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to conduct instrument approaches; a pilot-rated passenger was on board. The pilot had completed the instrument landing system instrument approach procedure to near decision altitude in visual conditions and initiated the missed approach with a climbing right turn. He indicated that when the airplane was about 600 ft above ground level, "the engine suddenly started to falter." The pilot initiated a course reversal to conduct a forced landing on the opposite runway, but the airplane stalled just above the runway and landed hard about 45° off the runway heading. The landing gear separated, the fuselage was substantially damaged, and the airplane slid into the grass infield where it came to rest. Examination of engine and GPS track data revealed the airplane had entered a full-power climb near the approach end of the 7,001-ft runway when fuel flow and engine rpm rapidly decreased. The climb was arrested, and instead of continuing straight ahead, the airplane entered a descending right turn. About 30 seconds into the descent, the last GPS position was recorded about 3,200 ft down the runway, 1,100 ft right of centerline, at an altitude of 1,023 ft. An engine start attempted at the airport shortly after the accident was unsuccessful; however, after the airplane was recovered to a recovery facility, the engine was successfully started and run on the airframe using the airplane's own fuel system. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
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: 772 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 661 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 4, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,391 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2018; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO360 SER (piston); 5,600 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CUB Columbia SC at 4:45 pm
- Destination: EQY Monroe NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 7,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KEQY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on March 25, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident/incident Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Data Monitor - Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Data Monitor - Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record - Engine Run | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum for Record - Safety Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Ils/loc Rwy 5 Instrument Approach Procedure | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N201FD 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.