Mooney M20J accident near Montauk, New York, June 6, 2003
On June 6, 2003 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N1077V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montauk, New York (Montauk Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2003 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Montauk, New York · Montauk Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N1077V · registry record · serial 24-3160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing on runway 24, a 3,258-foot-long, 85-foot-wide, asphalt runway. According to the pilot, during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a direct crosswind gust that he was unable to correct with right aileron. The pilot added full power and attempted to maneuver the airplane back towards the runway centerline, but the airplane continued to drift left towards brush. He then attempted to climb; however, the left wing made contact with the top of the brush and the airplane struck the ground. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at the airport about the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 11 knots.
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: 720 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 720 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,035 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 2002; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Avco Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSV Monticello NY at 12:00 pm
- Destination: MTP Montauk NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,258 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from MTP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.