Mooney M20K accident near Spring Hill, Kansas, November 4, 1985
On November 4, 1985 at about 3:00 am local time, a Mooney M20K, registered N231KB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spring Hill, Kansas. It was a business 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1985 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Spring Hill, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20K · all M20Ks on the register
- Registration
- N231KB · no longer on the register · serial 25-0006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THIS AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING FROM A BUSINESS FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED THROUGH A FENCE AND THEN IMPACTED A POLE WITH ONE WING. THE PILOT STATED THAT ONE CONNECTING ROD CAME THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND A ROD CAP WAS FOUND OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE PILOT LISTED TOTAL TIME 1800 ON THE ENGINE AND 1150 HOURS ON THE BROKEN PARTS. ENGINE TEARDOWN AND INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,770 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 253 in the last 90 days; 7,589 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TS10-360-GB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 1:45 am
- Destination: GVW Grandview MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from IXD, 6 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.