Mooney M20F accident near Wellsville, New York, December 11, 1996
On December 11, 1996 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Mooney M20F, registered N3424N, was destroyed in an accident near Wellsville, New York (Wellsville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Descent below the published minimum descent altitude followed by collision with the surrounding terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1996 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Wellsville, New York · Wellsville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20F · all M20Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3424N · no longer on the register · serial 680048
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination. After picking up another passenger and refueling, the pilot departed for their destination. The surviving passenger stated that the pilot was utilizing his Global Positioning System (GPS) en route to help track their route to their destination. The destination airport was equipped with a Localizer approach to the runway. The passenger reported that there was no indication from the pilot that anything was wrong with the airplane, the engine sounded good and there was no ice on the airplane. As they approached the airport, the surviving passenger heard the pilot state, 'I can see the ground' and the pilot gave the thumbs up signal. This statement was followed by the front right seat passenger exclaiming, 'Look out for the trees, pull up, pull up!' There was no power application and shortly afterwards the airplane collided with the trees.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERI Erie PA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: ELZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 4,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BFD, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.