Mooney M20J accident near Montauk, New York, July 14, 2024
On July 14, 2024 at about 6:35 pm local time, a 1978 Mooney M20J, registered N8201R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Montauk, New York (Montauk 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 an appropriate glide path during the landing approach in terrain induced turbulence, resulting in a hard landing and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2024 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J, built 1978 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N8201R · no longer on the register · serial 24-0607
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, after passing over some high terrain, he encountered turbulence, and the airplane began to sink “very fast.” The pilot increased engine power to arrest the sink rate, however, the airplane was too low resulting in a hard landing on the runway. After the hard landing, the pilot reported the airplane first went to the right, followed by a left turn and runway excursion into bushes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right aileron. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Turbulence encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Terrain induced turbulence › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 218.2 hours in all; 42.1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 218.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 14, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,910.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 1,910 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DXR Danbury CT at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,246 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from FOK, 34 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFOK 171853Z 18010G16KT 10SM CLR 28/24 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP103 T02830239=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at accident site
Photograph 2 – Airplane after recovery
Photograph 3 – Damage to the fuselageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 8, 2024. 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record - Pilot's Email | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.