Mooney M20J accident near Magee, Mississippi, July 8, 1993
On July 8, 1993 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N3896H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Magee, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INSTALLATION OF AN INCORRECT OIL FILTER ADAPTER PLATE STUD WHICH SECURES THE PLATE TO THE ACCESSORY CASE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1993 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Magee, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N3896H · no longer on the register · serial 24-0980
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, A MECHANIC CHANGED THE ENGINE OIL BUT DID NOT RUN THE ENGINE AFTER TO CHECK FOR OIL LEAKS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE OIL QUANTITY WAS FULL BEFORE DEPARTURE. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD GEAR-UP. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR EXAMINATION. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A SECTION OF GASKET BETWEEN THE ACCESSORY CASE AND THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER PLATE WAS MISSING. ALSO, THE OIL FILTER ADAPTER PLATE STUD WHICH SECURES THE PLATE TO THE ACCESSORY CASE WAS INCORRECT. AS A RESULT, THE ADAPTER PLATE WAS LOOSE. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO OIL STARVATION WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE OIL EXITING THE ENGINE PAST THE GASKET.
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
- Flight time: 1,117 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,009 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,184 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1993; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T36 Tylertown MS at 7:15 pm
- Destination: 50J Moncks Corner SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from JAN, 30 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.