Mooney M-20J accident near Alexander City, Alabama, July 25, 1998
On July 25, 1998 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Mooney M-20J, registered N91381, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexander City, Alabama (Thomas C. Russell Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 directional control of the airplane during landing rollout and attempted go-around, resulting in departure from the runway and collision with adjacent brush and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1998 · about 8:30 pm local time · cases in 1998
- Place
- Alexander City, Alabama · Thomas C. Russell Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20J · all M-20Js on the register
- Registration
- N91381 · no longer on the register · serial 24-3237
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane commenced a right skid immediately upon touchdown that caused departure from the runway off the right edge. A go-around was attempted, but before the airplane became airborne, the right wing collided with peripheral brush and trees causing right wing spar damage. Winds were reported as variable at 3 knots. Subsequent examination of the airplane's braking and steering systems revealed no mechanical discrepancies.
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: student
- Flight time: 47 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 398 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1998; 52 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: MGM Montgomery AL at 7:52 pm
- Destination: GAD Gadsden AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,417 ft by 96 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MGM, 50 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.
Other NTSB records under N91381 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N91381: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Mooney M-20 6,245 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Mooney 5,394 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 74 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Thomas C Russell Field · nearest airport
- Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) · departed from
- Northeast Alabama Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Alabama 1,210 since 1982 · 172 in the last ten years
- Alabama 4,348 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N91381 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA98LA207.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.