Mooney M20R accident near Marshfield, Massachusetts, March 9, 2007
On March 9, 2007 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N323RW, was destroyed in an accident near Marshfield, Massachusetts (Marshfield Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of directional control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2007 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marshfield, Massachusetts · Marshfield Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N323RW · registry record · serial 29-0306
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Mooney M20R entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and slowed the airplane to 90 knots. He then lowered the flaps, turned onto the base and final leg of the traffic pattern, and again increased the flap setting. The airplane touched down immediately past the runway numbers at a speed of 70 knots. The pilot then applied the brakes, and at approximately mid-field, it became difficult for him to maintain directional control, and the airplane "pulled severely to the left." He then initiated a go around by applying full power and raising the nose of the airplane to establish a positive rate of climb. The airplane then struck the airport perimeter fence and a large rock, separating the left wing and igniting a fire. Two witnesses, one a pilot and the other a flight instructor, both observed the airplane during the landing approach. They both reported seeing the airplane approach the runway, before it disappeared from view behind a row of hangars. When they next saw the airplane, it appeared traveling "fast," and was "trailed by tire smoke." The airplane then departed the runway surface, and the engine sound increased to "full power." The witnesses lost sight of the airplane behind terrain, but observed a "large ball of flames" moments later. Examination of the runway surface revealed skid marks that began about 1,000 feet beyond the threshold of the 3,001-foot long runway, which continued for about 1,600 feet before departing the left side of the runway surface. Marks in the turf continued from where the skid marks left the runway, through the airport perimeter fence, and toward where the airplane came to rest. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane, including both main landing gear, was consumed by a post-impact fire.
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: 930 hours in all; 372 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 298 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,368 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-G6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 1:36 pm
- Destination: GHG Marshfield MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point -6°F (-21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.54 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from GHG
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.