Mooney M20J accident near Bristol, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1984
On February 16, 1984 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N201LU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bristol, Pennsylvania (3M 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
- February 16, 1984 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Bristol, Pennsylvania · 3M · 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
- N201LU · registry record · serial 24-0286
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WEATHER AND HEAD WINDS ON A X-COUNTRY FLT. NEARING HIS DESTINATION AFTER A LONG FLT THE PLT WAS TRYING TO LET DOWN VFR THROUGH BREAKS ON THE CLOUDS WHEN HE REALIZED THE CRITICAL NATURE OF HIS FUEL LEVEL. A SEARCH FORAN ARPT PRODUCED THE 3M ARPT. A SHORT AND STEEP APPROACH RESULTED IN A LONG TOUCHDOWN ABOUT 1/2 WAY DOWN THE RWY THE NOSE GEAR COLLPASED DURING THE LANDING AND THE ACFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ABOUT 500 FT FROM THE RWY'S END. EXAMINATION OF BOTH FUEL TANKS BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED NO FUEL IN EITHER 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 215 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 157 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Waukegan IL at 4:00 pm
- Destination: PHL Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.