Mooney M20C accident near Big Lake, TX
On August 9, 1993, a Mooney M20C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Big Lake, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 9, 1993
- Place
- Big Lake, TX
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.189°N, 101.450°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13138
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 9, 1993, at 1217 central daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N5672Q, was destroyed upon impact with terrain while on pipeline patrol near Big Lake, Texas. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial observation flight. There were no witnesses to the accident. The wreckage was discovered by the Reagan County Fire Department after they arrived at the site responding to a call to a grass fire. The pilot, operating as Elkin Aviation, was working as an independent contractor for the Exxon Pipeline Company. The assigned patrol consisted of the route known as "the Yates-Pecos to Kemper crude." According to the pipeline company, the pilot was very familiar with the assigned route, and had been flying the route on a weekly basis. Other pipeline patrol pilots interviewed stated that this type of flight was normally flown at 500 feet above ground level. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The pilot, a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, performed the last complete engine overhaul on February 1, 1992. According to the engine logbook, he also performed a "top overhaul" at the time of the last annual inspection. The airplane was filled to capacity with 100LL aviation fuel at the Crane County Municipal Airport, Crane, Texas. A witness at the airport stated that the engine backfired several times before the pilot was able to start the engine. The witness added that the engine appeared to be running rough while the airplane taxied for departure, as well as during the initial takeoff
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN CLEARANCE.
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Browse: Texas · Mooney aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
