Mooney M20C accident near Sarepta, LA
On July 15, 1997, a Mooney M20C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sarepta, LA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 15, 1997
- Place
- Sarepta, LA
- Aircraft
- Mooney M20C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.890°N, 93.449°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08356
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT: On July 15, 1997, at 1033 central daylight time, a Mooney M20C, N777TU, owned by a private individual dba Rio Vista Aviation, San Antonio, Texas, and operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91, impacted terrain following a loss of engine power near Sarepta, Louisiana. The private pilot, sole occupant, received fatal injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned cross country flight to Clarksville, Tennessee. A flight plan was not filed. The flight departed New Braunfels, Texas, approximately 0536. During personal interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge (IIC), the owner, witnesses, and local authorities reported the following information. The pilot rented the airplane for the planned round trip flight to Clarksville, Tennessee. The airplane was refueled (Hobbs 164.0). On the evening of July 14, 1997, the pilot flew the airplane from the San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, Texas, to New Braunfels (near the pilot's residence) for an early departure the following morning for the round trip flight to Clarksville. Following the accident, personnel at Clarksville reported that the aircraft had not landed at that airport. Witnesses observed the airplane in the vicinity of the accident site flying in an easterly direction at an estimated altitude from 300 to 100 agl. The engine was not running and the propeller was turning. The witnesses did not hear or observe the impact and thought that the pilot had gotten the engine started and continued on his flight. When the airplane did
Probable cause
The pilot's impairment (drugs) resulting in his becoming disoriented and the ensuing loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the inaccurate navigation chart.
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Browse: Louisiana · 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.
