Mooney M20K accident near Godley, Texas, July 1, 2000
On July 1, 2000 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231RR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Godley, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his delay in aborting the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2000 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Godley, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231RR · registry record · serial 250072
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who is also an aircraft mechanic, had just completed a 100-hour inspection on his airplane, and he inadvertently left the magneto P-leads disconnected. While in cruise flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot made a successful emergency landing in a field. The pilot stated that he reconnected the P-leads, checked the magnetos, and attempted a takeoff from the field. He stated that the acceleration was 'normal;' however, when the airplane lifted off of the ground it 'skipped and settled two or three times.' The pilot aborted the takeoff 'too late to keep from plowing through some small trees.' The pilot stated that he misjudged the distance required to takeoff from the soft field.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,091 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,838 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2000; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-GB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F18 Cleburne TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: T67 Fort Worth TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from FTW, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.