Mooney M20J accident near New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1988
On December 11, 1988 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N3820H, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Alexandria, Pennsylvania. 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
LOSS OF CONTROL EXPERIENCE DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AFTER AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE DUE TO A POWER LOSS CAUSED BY CONTAMINATED FUEL. WATER HAD BEEN REMOVED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1988 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- New Alexandria, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N3820H · registry record · serial 24-0951
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS CRUISING AT 3500 FEET WHEN IT LOST POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. IT STRUCK A POTHOLE DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST WITH THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION BY THE FAA SHOWED THE GASCOLATOR FULL OF ICE AND THE RIGHT FUEL DRAIN WAS FROZEN. LATER THE AIRCRAFT WAS WARMED UP IN A HANGAR AND 1/2 GALLON OF WATER WAS REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT WING. WATER WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL INLET SCREEN.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,800 hours in all; 780 in this make and model; 122 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 11,600 as pilot in command; 122 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 745 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1988; 12 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: College Station PA
- Destination: Pittsburgh PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.