Mooney M20J accident near De Lancey, New York, July 1, 2003
On July 1, 2003 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N1084B, was substantially damaged in an accident near De Lancey, New York (Bishop Airstrip airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to perform an aborted takeoff, which did not allow for sufficient room to stop. A factor was the grass runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2003 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- De Lancey, New York · Bishop Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N1084B · no longer on the register · serial 24-3266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot experienced a power loss while en route, and performed a forced landing with no damage into a field that had once been an airport. The airplane was repaired and the pilot prepared for departure. A farmer cut the grass in the field in a 1,500 foot long, by 50 foot wide area for the pilot to use as a runway. An additional 1,600 had recently been cut by the farmer, and it was not re-cut. The pilot reported he attempted a short field takeoff, lifted at 65 to 70 kts, and the airplane did not climb, He settled back, gained more speed and attempted to lift off again. The airplane would not climb, the trees were approaching, and he aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck trees. The on-board passenger reported that the airplane lifted off at 65 kts, nose high, and settled back on the ground, bounced up again, and then the pilot cut the power. A witness said the airplane became airborne in a nose high pitch attitude, settled back to the ground, became airborne again in a nose high pitch attitude. The pilot cut the power and the airplane struck trees. There were no reported problems with the airplane or engine. According to the FAA approved AFM, the airspeed that the pilot reported he used for takeoff were greater than those specified. The field was located in the bottom of a canyon that was about 1,500 feet wide, and would have required the pilot to climb out while remaining below the top of the surrounding terrain.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 8, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,880.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 2002; 146 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE De Lancey NY at 9:30 pm
- Destination: DYL Dolylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from BGM, 45 miles away
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.