Mooney M20J accident near Cleveland, Ohio, April 24, 1995
On April 24, 1995 at about 1:55 am local time, a Mooney M20J, registered N9969X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Ohio (Burke Lakefront airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's improper decision to fly an extended landing pattern after experiencing a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1995 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Ohio · Burke Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20J · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N9969X · no longer on the register · serial 24-1243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS APPROACHING THE AIRPORT TO LAND WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. AS HE NEARED THE AIRPORT, THE ROUGHNESS STOPPED. HE THEN ELECTED TO OVERFLY THE AIRPORT AND LAND ON A DIFFERENT RUNWAY. AS THE AIRPLANE TURNED FINAL, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT DITCHED IN THE WATER, AVOIDING A ROCKY AREA NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE ENGINE WAS ROUGH WHEN RAN. THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT, FUEL INJECTORS AND FUEL SERVO WERE CHECKED, AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS.
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: 250 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1994; 43 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: ORF Norfolk VA at 11:15 pm
- Destination: BKL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from BKL
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.
Other NTSB records under N9969X 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.