Mooney M20C accident near Warwick, New York, April 29, 2021
On April 29, 2021 at about 4:17 pm local time, a 1962 Mooney M20C, registered N6448U, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Warwick, New York (Warwick Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loose stand-off clamp which resulted in a throttle assembly malfunction, and the inability of the engine to produce full power during the attempted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2021 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Warwick, New York · Warwick Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C, built 1962 · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6448U · no longer on the register · serial 2195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the day of the accident, the pilot decided to take his airplane on a flight around the traffic pattern at his home airport to practice a few takeoffs and landings. After pulling the airplane out of the hangar where he kept it, he performed a preflight inspection. He then performed an engine runup, then back taxied on the runway for takeoff. Once he was in position for takeoff, he advanced the throttle until it was full open, and at 65 mph and about 2/3rds of the way down the runway, he rotated. He immediately realized that the engine was not producing full power, and attempted to advance the throttle further, but he realized that the throttle seemed as though it was not advancing completely. He then nosed the airplane down to attempt to stay in ground effect and gain some airspeed. A lake was at the departure end of the runway, and he was already approaching the trees on the opposite bank. He then picked a spot between trees, turned the fuel off, and pulled the aircraft into a full stall prior to impact. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. Further examination also revealed that the throttle cable would resist efforts to fully open the throttle and would only move the throttle arm on the carburetor about 1/2 an inch, and when the throttle was fully open, the entire throttle cable would move through the firewall and bulge. After disconnecting the cable from the carburetor, the cable was found to be still under load, until a loose stand-off clamp that connected the throttle cable to the firewall was repositioned, which then allowed the throttle to function properly through its full range of motion.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 532.7 hours in all; 8.5 in this make and model; 17.4 in the last 90 days; 4.4 in the last 30 days; 532.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 9, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,091.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1 (piston); 3,714 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N72 Warwick NY at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21L, 2,150 ft by 28 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from KMGJ, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMGJ 281554Z AUTO 17004KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP097 T02110106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements and Interview Summaries | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Site and Flight Path | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.