Mooney M20K accident near Mineola, Texas, January 11, 1990
On January 11, 1990 at about 1:30 am local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N5792M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mineola, Texas (Mineola Wisener airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE. RELATED FACTORS WERE: DARKNESS AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1990 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Mineola, Texas · Mineola Wisener · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5792M · no longer on the register · serial 25-0856
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE LANDING AT NIGHT, THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL PASSES OVER THE UNFAMILIAR AIRPORT NOTING THAT ONE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTING WAS INOPERATIVE. HE LANDED THE AIRCRAFT AND IT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LAST 1/3 OF THE RUNWAY. HE THEN VEERED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO AVOID HITTING A BARRIER THAT EXTENDED ACROSS THE DEPARTURE END. THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE AND A DIRT BANK.
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: 444 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 252 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E11 Andrews TX at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,197 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.