Mooney M20E accident near West Creek, New Jersey, September 30, 2002
On September 30, 2002 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Mooney M20E, registered N5556Q, was destroyed in an accident near West Creek, New Jersey (Eagles Nest Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect water-contaminated fuel, and his failure to maintain airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2002 · about 7:35 pm local time · cases in 2002
- Place
- West Creek, New Jersey · Eagles Nest Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20E · all M20Es on the register
- Registration
- N5556Q · no longer on the register · serial 631
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two witnesses reported that the pilot completed a preflight inspection of his airplane, but they could not confirm if he sumped the fuel tanks. They saw the airplane taxi to the 3,200-foot long, 60-foot wide, asphalt runway; and heard the engine run-up. The witnesses then observed the airplane begin a takeoff roll. As it passed behind trees, they did not see the airplane climb above the tree line. One witness heard a sputter, while the other witness heard the engine noise cease, with no roughness. They then heard the sound of impact. A third witness did not see the accident, but heard the engine race at full throttle, then the sound of impact. The airplane came to rest approximately 2,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway, 1,200 feet prior to the departure end of the runway, and 176 feet to the right of the runway centerline. It was oriented nose down, in a near vertical attitude. Two freshly cut tree branches were located near the wreckage. One branch was approximately 1 inch in diameter, and the other branch was approximately 3 inches in diameter. One propeller blade exhibited chord-wise scratching, and an approximate 4-inch section of the tip was missing from the other propeller blade. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine. Traces of water in were found in the fuel servo and fuel manifold. The airplane was not kept in a hangar. Approximately 1/2 inch of rain fell 4 days prior to the accident.
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: 396 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,993 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,575 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 31E West Creek NJ at 7:35 pm
- Destination: 31E
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from ACY, 20 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5556Q: 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 8,559 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Eagles Nest Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Jersey 1,189 since 1982 · 136 in the last ten years
- New Jersey 3,017 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/NYC02FA200.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.