Mooney M20J accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1986
On February 3, 1986 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N1144P, was destroyed in an accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 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
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 3, 1986 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N1144P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1187
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS ENROUTE FROM LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY TO CONNECTICUT. WHILE CRUISING AT 9000 FT AN ENGINE POWER LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. THE ATC SET UP AN ILS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 33 AT JOHNSTOWN, PA. HOWEVER THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN GLIDESLOPE TO THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED LANDED IN A FIELD DEMOLISHING THE AIRCRAFT. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DID NOT EXPLAIN THE ENGINE FAILURE.
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: 565 hours in all; 311 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 271 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,740 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360-A3B69 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Louisville KY at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Johnstown PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N1144P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.