Mooney M20F accident near Miami, Oklahoma, January 14, 1995
On January 14, 1995 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N4024N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Miami, Oklahoma (Miami Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF DUE TO HIS ATTENTION BEING DIVERTED. FACTORS WERE THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BLOCKING THE GEAR UP LATCHING MECHANISM, AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1995 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Oklahoma · Miami Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N4024N · registry record · serial 680-160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO A PROBLEM WITH RAISING THE GEAR LEVER. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS BLOCKING THE GEAR LEVER PREVENTING THE GEAR FROM LOCKING UP. WHILE THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO MOVE THE SEATBELT BUCKLE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE AND REPORTED 1 HOUR IN MAKE/MODEL.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIO at 6:20 pm
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,613 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 035° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from JLN, 20 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.