Mooney M20R accident near Ravenna, Ohio, May 28, 1999
On May 28, 1999 at about 1:00 am local time, a Mooney M20R, registered N496DE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ravenna, Ohio (Portage County 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 pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing, and his failure to maintain directional control after touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1999 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Ravenna, Ohio · Portage County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20R · all M20Rs on the register
- Registration
- N496DE · registry record · serial 290082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on a 3,500 foot long, 75 foot wide, asphalt runway, in night visual meteorological conditions, the airplane landed hard and bounced. The pilot stated, he could no longer see the runway lights and he initiated a go-around; however, he felt the airplane was not climbing, and elected to 'cut the power' and land. The airplane landed on the right side of the runway, it then veered off the right side of the runway, down a grass embankment, across a drainage ditch, and struck a large cement box. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,750 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 1998; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFD Mansfield OH at 1:00 am
- Destination: 29G
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from CAK, 20 miles away
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.