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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 14, 1988 · Mooney M20F · N9654M

Middlesboro, KY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 14, 1988
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Location
Middlesboro, KY
Aircraft
Mooney M20F
Tail Number
N9654M
Operator
Stanley W Erwin
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL88FA174

WITNESSES RPRTED THE ENG DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS PROVIDING FULL POWER DRG TAKEOFF & THAT ABT 3/4 OF THE 3600' RWY WAS USED FOR THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED AT A SHALLOW ANGLE TO ABT 250 TO 300 FT AGL. IT THEN ENTEREDA SHALLOW LEFT BANK. AFTER TURNING ABT 90 DEG, ITS NOSE PITCHED UP & THE ACFT CLIMBED ABT 100 FT. THE ACFT THEN SNAP- ROLLED TO THE LEFT, ENTERED A DSCNT & CRASHED NEXT TO A STORAGE BLDG IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS LOADED TO NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE ENGINE WAS SATISFACTORILY TEST-RUN AT RATED POWER. THE LNDG GEAR WAS FND IN THE FULLY RETRACTED PSN & THE FLAPS WERE FND FULLY EXTENDED. USING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE WITH 15 DEG OF FLAPS (TAKEOFF FLAPS) WAS CALCULATED TO BE 977'.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES RPRTED THE ENG DID NOT SOUND LIKE IT WAS PROVIDING FULL POWER DRG TAKEOFF & THAT ABT 3/4 OF THE 3600' RWY WAS USED FOR THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED AT A SHALLOW ANGLE TO ABT 250 TO 300 FT AGL. IT THEN ENTEREDA SHALLOW LEFT BANK. AFTER TURNING ABT 90 DEG, ITS NOSE PITCHED UP & THE ACFT CLIMBED ABT 100 FT. THE ACFT THEN SNAP- ROLLED TO THE LEFT, ENTERED A DSCNT & CRASHED NEXT TO A STORAGE BLDG IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT WAS LOADED TO NEAR ITS MAX GROSS WT LIMIT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE ENGINE WAS SATISFACTORILY TEST-RUN AT RATED POWER. THE LNDG GEAR WAS FND IN THE FULLY RETRACTED PSN & THE FLAPS WERE FND FULLY EXTENDED. USING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE TAKEOFF DISTANCE WITH 15 DEG OF FLAPS (TAKEOFF FLAPS) WAS CALCULATED TO BE 977'.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:20 EDT
Nearest AirportMiddlesboro-Bell County (0nm N)
Runway10
Runway Length3630 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M20F
Tail NumberN9654M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorStanley W Erwin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (4 fatalities)
Fatal4
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data