Mooney M-20C accident near Midland, Texas, August 15, 1983
On August 15, 1983 at about 1:35 am local time, a Mooney M-20C, registered N6869U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Skyranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- August 15, 1983 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Skyranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20C · all M-20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6869U · registry record · serial 2573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE POST DURING TAXI FOR TAKEOFF. THE ACFT WAS ALLOWED TO DRIFT RIGHT OF THE CENTER OF THE TAXIWAY. THE COLLISION VEERED THE ACFT TO THE RIGHT AND DAMAGED THE WING. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT DUSK.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 211 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 148 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,401 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Midland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 27 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.