Mooney M20R accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, June 27, 2015
On June 27, 2015 at about 9:21 pm local time, a 2005 Mooney M20R, registered N93TK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing, which resulted in a bounce and loss of control during landing, followed by a runway excursion, and collision with terrain during an attempt to abort the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2015 · about 9:21 pm local time
- Place
- West Mifflin, Pennsylvania · Allegheny County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R NO SERIES, built 2005 · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N93TK · no longer on the register · serial 29-0360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the initial touch down the airplane bounced, the pilot elected to abort the landing, and the airplane drifted to the left of the runway when power was applied. The pilot stated that the airplane did not have sufficient airspeed when she retracted the first notch of flaps, the airplane descended and the right wing impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 599 hours in all; 498 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 386 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 10, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,744 hours in all; 1,235 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,567 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,491.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550G(6)B (piston); 1,492 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MQI Manteo NC at 7:00 pm
- Destination: AGC West Mifflin PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KAGC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 29, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1-VIEW of Right Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of the FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.