Mooney M20A accident near San Antonio, Texas, May 2, 1982
On May 2, 1982 at about 11:48 pm local time, a Mooney M20A, registered N7836C, was destroyed in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (Twin Oaks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1982 · about 11:48 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Twin Oaks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20A · all M20As on the register
- Registration
- N7836C · no longer on the register · serial 1204
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PILOT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 30 WITH A 7 KNOT TAILWIND. ON FINAL APPROACH, HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS PATTERN AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND AND CLIMB, A MAP AND CHECKLIST FELL INTO THE RECESS BETWEEN THE SEATS AND INTERFERED WITH THE GEAR HANDLE. THE PILOT CONTINUED IN THE PATTERN WHILE REMOVING THE ARTICLES. HE THOUGHT THAT HE HAD LOWERED THE GEAR PRIOR TO THE NEXT LANDING. HOWEVER, WITNESSES REPORTED THAT ON THE SECOND APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE GEAR UP. THE PILOT INITIATED ANOTHER GO-AROUND AND PULLED UP TO CLEAR OBSTACLES BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES AND A HOUSE TOP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AS IT CRASHED. A NUMBER OF PROPELLER SLASH MARKS AND A FOUR INCH WIND SCRAPE MARK WERE FOUND ABOUT 500 TO 700 FT DOWN THE 1800 FT RUNWAY. IN THIS AIRCRAFT, THE GEAR IS EXTENDED BY RAISING THE GEAR HANDLE AND RETRACTED BY LOWERING THE HANDLE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,900 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,065 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Vanderpool TX
- Destination: SDY Sidney MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.