Mooney M20J accident near Mexia, Texas, October 14, 1992
On October 14, 1992 at about 4:00 am local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mexia, Texas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FUELED THE AIRCRAFT WITH JET FUEL INSTEAD OF AVAITION GASOLINE. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1992 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Mexia, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201BL · registry record · serial 24-1259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO A NIGHT DEPARTURE FROM A LOCAL AIRPORT THE PILOT REFUELED HIS AIRPLANE. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. AN EVALUATION OF THE FUEL REVEALED THAT THE AVIATION FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED WITH JET A TYPE FUEL.
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: 220 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1992; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Abilene Aero INC
The flight
- Departed from: TX06 at 4:00 am
- Destination: LBB Lubbock TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 am from ACT, 45 miles away
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.