Mooney M20C accident near Middletown, Rhode Island, April 20, 2000
On April 20, 2000 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Mooney M20C, registered N9187V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middletown, Rhode Island (Newport State Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot which did not detect the water in the fuel tanks prior to departure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 2000 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, Rhode Island · Newport State Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · all M20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9187V · registry record · serial 690038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he preflighted the airplane, which included draining the fuel tanks prior to departure. During departure, when the airplane was about 80 to 100 feet above the ground, the engine experienced a power loss. Due to trees off the departure end of the runway, the pilot initiated a right turn to land on another runway and remain on airport. The airplane contacted the ground in a right bank. Examination of the airplane revealed water in the fuel tanks, the fuel line leading to the carburetor, and in the carburetor bowl. The pilot reported that he drained the fuel tanks with a plastic cup that came with the airplane. He further added, 'he did not drain enough fuel' [to detect the water].
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,158 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1999; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUU at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,623 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,800 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from UUU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.