Mooney M20E accident near Cushing, Oklahoma, January 9, 1983
On January 9, 1983 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N7778M, was destroyed in an accident near Cushing, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- January 9, 1983 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cushing, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N7778M · registry record · serial 21-0033
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE DURING A LOW FLT DOWN A RIVER. THE ACFT IMPACTED 3 HIGH TENSION CABLES SPANNING THE RIVER. WITNESSES SAID THE ACFT WAS FLYING LOW AND FAST. THE COLLISION PRODUCED A SOUND 'LIKE A GUNSHOT' AND THE ACFT FELL TO THE GROUND AND BOUNCED. IT SPUN AROUND AND ENDING UP FACING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE FLT. THE WRECKAGE CAME TO REST ON A SANDBAR IN THE RIVER BED WITH A STRAND OF CABLE AROUND THE PROPELLER. BOTH OCCUPANTS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,650 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1983; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO 360 A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cushing OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7778M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.