Mooney M20B accident near Leonardtown, Maryland, August 2, 2003
On August 2, 2003 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Mooney M20B, registered N33EM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leonardtown, Maryland (Duke Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. A factor was the fuel cap not being secured to the tank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2003 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Leonardtown, Maryland · Duke Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20B · all M20Bs on the register
- Registration
- N33EM · no longer on the register · serial 1850
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, at about 150 feet agl, the airplane's engine surged and then lost complete power. The pilot initiated an immediate left turn and performed a forced landing to a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing fuel filler cap did not seat correctly into its fuel tank fitting. A sample of fuel from the left tank revealed "several ounces" of water. Samples of fuel taken from the carburetor bowl and engine driven fuel pump also contained water, and corrosion was noted on the pump. A review of recorded precipitation totals from an airport 7 miles east of where the airplane was based, for a period extending two weeks prior to the accident, revealed 2.3 inches of rain had fallen in the area.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,215 hours in all; 1,153 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,770 as pilot in command; 1,430 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 20, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 2003; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2W6 Leonardtown MD at 1:40 pm
- Destination: EZF Fredricksburg VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,150 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from NHK, 7 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.
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.