Mooney M20J accident near Spring, Texas, June 30, 1993
On June 30, 1993 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N3740H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring, Texas (David Wayne Hooks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPERLY PLANNED APPROACH AND THE RESULTANT OVERSHOOT OF THE INTENDED LANDING AREA. FACTORS WERE THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION, AND THE INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1993 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Spring, Texas · David Wayne Hooks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N3740H · no longer on the register · serial 24-0917
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON CLIMBOUT FROM THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE TOWER THAT HE HAD AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND HE WAS IMMEDIATELY CLEARED TO LAND. THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND AS HE APPROACHED THE DEPARTURE END, HE ESTABLISHED A VERY HIGH CLIMB ANGLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLEAR POWERLINES AND TREES. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN HEAVILY WOODED AREA IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED CORROSION AND CORROSION PITTING THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR OF THE ENGINE.
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: 180 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 116 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1992; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3BC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DWH at 11:40 pm
- Destination: DWH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 7,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DWH, 2 miles away
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.