Mooney M20K accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, January 28, 2003
On January 28, 2003 at about 10:36 pm local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231NT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 28, 2003 · about 10:36 pm local time
- Place
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231NT · no longer on the register · serial 25-0330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported a "loud pop" followed by a loss of engine power during takeoff climb and attempted to land on the remaining runway. The airplane came to a stop about 250 feet past the end of the runway and 200 feet left of the centerline. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed no discrepancies except for a low reading in the number 3 cylinder, during a cold compression check. The fuel, along with the fuel systems, was examined and no abnormalities were found. Someone from the fix base operator had assisted the occupants out of the aircraft and turned off all switches. He remembered the auxiliary fuel pump was on and the fuel selector was pointing to a position between the left fuel tank and the off position. The pilot could not remember if she had turned the fuel selector to the off position at the time of the accident.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,433 hours in all; 4,091 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2003; 88.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE Myrtle Beach SC at 10:36 pm
- Destination: GMU Greenville SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,996 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KCRE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.