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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 5, 1987 · Mooney M-20C · N5590Q

Waller, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 5, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Waller, TX
Aircraft
Mooney M-20C
Tail Number
N5590Q
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW87FA209

IT WAS REPORTED THAT A PRIVATE PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS FROM A CFI WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS INVITED BY THE PVT PLT TO GO WITH HIM ON A SHORT FLIGHT AND THAT HE WAS ONLY A PASSENGER. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PVT PLT REPORTEDLY STARTED DOING SLOW FLIGHT MANEUVERS AT 3000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE PVT PLT MADE SEVERAL FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS WHICH TERMINATED WITH THE AIRCRAFT BEING IN AN INVERTED SPIN. WHEN THE PVT PLT MADE NO ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER, THE CFI MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE HAD THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT THE PVT PLT HAD A COMPLETELY BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE AND WOULD NOT LET GO OF THE CONTROLS. HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. HE THEN FOUGHT THE PVT PLT UNTIL HE GAINED CONTROL. HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACT WITH TREES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

IT WAS REPORTED THAT A PRIVATE PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUMENT FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS FROM A CFI WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE CFI STATED THAT HE WAS INVITED BY THE PVT PLT TO GO WITH HIM ON A SHORT FLIGHT AND THAT HE WAS ONLY A PASSENGER. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PVT PLT REPORTEDLY STARTED DOING SLOW FLIGHT MANEUVERS AT 3000 FEET MSL. ACCORDING TO THE CFI THE PVT PLT MADE SEVERAL FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS WHICH TERMINATED WITH THE AIRCRAFT BEING IN AN INVERTED SPIN. WHEN THE PVT PLT MADE NO ATTEMPTS TO RECOVER, THE CFI MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE HAD THE AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT THE PVT PLT HAD A COMPLETELY BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE AND WOULD NOT LET GO OF THE CONTROLS. HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. HE THEN FOUGHT THE PVT PLT UNTIL HE GAINED CONTROL. HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID IMPACT WITH TREES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:42 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMooney M-20C
Tail NumberN5590Q
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 41 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data