Mooney M20J accident near Erie, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1983
On September 19, 1983 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N25XX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erie, Pennsylvania (Erie airport). It was a personal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 1983 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Pennsylvania · Erie
- 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
- N25XX · registry record · serial 24-08266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AT APRX 50 FT AGL AFTER THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HIS ONLY SAFE REACTION WAS TO LAND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED ON 'WHAT LITTLE RWY WAS LEFT.' WATER WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR & RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED WITH 51 GAL OF FUEL AT THE ERIE ARPT & WAS FILLED, RIGHT TANK 1ST. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD USED BOTH TANKS ON THE FLT TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE TAKING OFF ON THIS FLT, HE WAS USING THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,387 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 1,369 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1983; 116 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERI Erie PA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 3G2 Washington PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 3,532 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.