Mooney M20J accident near Norton, Virginia, April 21, 2000
On April 21, 2000 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N5632H, was destroyed in an accident near Norton, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper weather evaluation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. Factors in this accident were icing conditions, and aircraft loading which exceed the airplane's weight and balance limitations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 2000 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Norton, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5632H · no longer on the register · serial 24-1368
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure the pilot received a weather briefing, which included flight advisories for icing along his intended route of flight. The airplane was in cruise flight at 9,000 feet when the pilot reported he was 'riding in the tops of the clouds.' The pilot requested and was cleared to climb to 11,000 feet. The airplane leveled off at 9,400 feet; then began another climb, and reached a maximum altitude of 9,700 feet. Shortly thereafter, the airplane entered a steep vertical descent, and radar contact was lost. The airplane came to rest at an elevation of about 3,600 feet, in uneven, wooded terrain. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical failure of the airframe or engine. Satellite data obtained for the flight indicated the potential for icing in the area of the airplane's last radar return. The airplane was not approved for flight into known icing conditions. An airplane weight and balance calculation revealed that the airplane's weight was about 2,945 pounds, and the center of gravity (CG) was about 142.88 inches, at the time of the accident. According to the pilot operating handbook, the maximum certificated gross weight for the airplane was 2,740 pounds. Additionally, the CG range at the maximum certificated gross weight was about 128 to 138 inches.
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: 1,815 hours in all; 1,030 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,685 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,310 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1999; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNA Nashville TN at 2:23 pm
- Destination: ROA Roanoke VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LNP, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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 N5632H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.