NTSB NYC83LA251 — 1983-09-19 · ERIE, Pennsylvania, United States

Current FAA registration · N25XX

Make / Model: MOONEY M20J
Year of manufacture: 1979 · 4 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C (200 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19790630
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A25748

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N25XX Mooney M20J None

Factual narrative

DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AT APRX 50 FT AGL AFTER THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HIS ONLY SAFE REACTION WAS TO LAND WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED ON 'WHAT LITTLE RWY WAS LEFT.' WATER WAS FOUND IN THE GASCOLATOR & RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED WITH 51 GAL OF FUEL AT THE ERIE ARPT & WAS FILLED, RIGHT TANK 1ST. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD USED BOTH TANKS ON THE FLT TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE TAKING OFF ON THIS FLT, HE WAS USING THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_NYC83LA251.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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