NTSB FTW95LA092 — 1995-01-14 · MIAMI, Oklahoma, United States

N4024N has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (NANCHANG CHINA CJ-6, built 1983), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N4024N Mooney M20F Serious

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF DUE TO HIS ATTENTION BEING DIVERTED. FACTORS WERE THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BLOCKING THE GEAR UP LATCHING MECHANISM, AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.

Factual narrative

On January 14, 1995, at 1220 central standard time, a Mooney M20F, N4024N, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Miami, Oklahoma. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross county flight. The pilot/operator report stated the following information. The pilot had just purchased the airplane and was going to fly it back to California. "While taking off - passenger side seatbelt buckle was jammed under gear lever which prevented gear from locking up - while trying to clear buckle from gear lever aircraft struck the ground." THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO A PROBLEM WITH RAISING THE GEAR LEVER. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS BLOCKING THE GEAR LEVER PREVENTING THE GEAR FROM LOCKING UP. WHILE THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO MOVE THE SEATBELT BUCKLE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE AND REPORTED 1 HOUR IN MAKE/MODEL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1995_FTW95LA092.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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