Mooney M20J accident near Oxford, Connecticut, May 24, 2004
On May 24, 2004 at about 1:08 am local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N5763W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oxford, Connecticut (Waterbury-Oxford Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during an instrument approach, which resulted in a collision with trees prior to the runway. Factors were nighttime conditions and cloud cover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2004 · about 1:08 am local time
- Place
- Oxford, Connecticut · Waterbury-Oxford Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N5763W · no longer on the register · serial 24-1472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot received a weather briefing for the night IFR flight, which included advisories for thunderstorms. The takeoff, climb, and cruise portions of the flight were uneventful. While approaching the destination airport, the pilot was informed that the control tower was closing, and an airplane ahead of him had just successfully landed. The pilot was provided the current weather at the destination airport, which included scattered clouds at 200 feet and a visibility of 2 miles. After being cleared for the ILS approach, the airplane intercepted the localizer course, crossed the final approach fix at 2,700 feet, and radar coverage was lost about 1,900 feet. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the airplane flying low, near a thunderstorm and fog. The airplane's engine revved to high power as it descended into trees about 1/2-mile short of the runway, and 1,000 feet right of extended centerline. Weather reports confirmed precipitation and lightning near the destination airport about the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 482 hours in all; 31 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 19, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,244 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 2004; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTV Burlington VT at 11:30 pm
- Destination: OXC Oxford CT
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from OXC
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.