Mooney M20-J accident near Jackson, Mississippi, July 15, 1993
On July 15, 1993 at about 1:03 pm local time, a Mooney M20-J, registered N57287, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Mississippi (Jackson Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING TAKEOFF, THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND HIS IMPROPER DECISION TO TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THERE WAS SUITABLE TERRAIN AHEAD FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1993 · about 1:03 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Mississippi · Jackson Intl
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20-J · all M20-Js on the register
- Registration
- N57287 · no longer on the register · serial 24-1440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH WITNESSES ON THE GROUND AND THE PASSENGERS STATED THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT SEEM TO PRODUCE ADEQUATE POWER, AND THE AIRPLANE USED THE ENTIRE 8,000-FT RUNWAY TO BECOME AIRBORNE. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RADIOED TO THE TOWER THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WAS RETURNING. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TURN LEFT IN A STEEP TURN ABOUT 200 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. IT THEN COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE GROUND. THERE WAS OPEN TERRAIN AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS FOUND TO BE 40/80, 30/80, 42/80 AND 72/80. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. THE AIRPLANE WAS MODIFIED TO INCREASE THE TAKEOFF MANIFOLD PRESSURE FROM 36 TO 38.5 IN HG. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT WHILE TAXIING FROM LANDING. A MECHANIC STATED THAT HE ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE TO INCREASE THE IDLE SETTING.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1993; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CLL College Station TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 15R, 8,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:05 pm from JAN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.