Mooney M20J accident near San Antonio, Texas, December 26, 1984
On December 26, 1984 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N5681K, was destroyed in an accident near San Antonio, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- December 26, 1984 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5681K · no longer on the register · serial 24-1398
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING & FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN ALTHOUGH POOR WX CONDITIONS EXISTED (200 FT CEILING & ONE-HALF MI VISIBILITY) AT SAN ANTONIO. THE TOWER INSTRUCTIONS TO N5681K WERE TO FLY RWY HEADING (120 DEG) AFTER DEPARTURE, HOWEVER, WHEN THE ACFT MADE A LEFT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN RT TO A HEADING OF 180 DEG. THE PLT ACKNOWLEDGED THE HEADING CHANGE BUT DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS. THIS WAS THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE PLT. DURING THE INVESTIGATION A COMPUTER-GENERATED GROUND TRACK REVEALED A LEFT TURN OF 495 DEG, FOLLOWED BY RT TURN OF 45 DEG WHICH WAS HELD FOR ABOUT ONE-HALF MIN & THEN ANOTHER RT TURN OF ABOUT 50 DEG BEFORE DISAPPEARING FROM RADAR.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, September 21, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: T02 Laporte TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 pm from SAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.