Mooney M20J accident near Olney, Texas, August 4, 2004
On August 4, 2004 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N1050W, was destroyed in an accident near Olney, Texas (Olney Municipal Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed sufficient for flight resulting in the inadvertent stall/spin. A contributing factor was the prevailing tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2004 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Olney, Texas · Olney Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N1050W · no longer on the register · serial 24-3115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 2,700-hour pilot lost control of the airplane while executing a steep left turn while on final approach to runway 35. A witness located on the airport observed the airplane initiate a 360 degree left turn while on approach. The witness stated that as the airplane started to turn around to a northerly heading, it appeared to have drifted east of the runway. The witness added that the angle of bank continued to increase as the airplane continued the turn and rolled over inverted. Subsequently, the nose dropped and the aircraft descended vertically and impacted the ground. The witness reported that the wind at the time of the accident were from the southwest at approximately 6 to 10 knots. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe. The airplane was found to be within weight and balance limits at the time of the accident.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,635 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2004; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Maxwell Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: 07F Gladewater TX at 12:30 pm
- Destination: ONY Olney TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,101 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 2:07 pm from RPH, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.