Mooney M-20E accident near Winston-Salem, NC
On June 3, 1998, a Mooney M-20E (airplane) was involved in an accident near Winston-Salem, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 3, 1998
- Place
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Aircraft
- Mooney M-20E · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.159°N, 80.229°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10375
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 3, 1998, about 1055 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M-20E, N9365V, registered to two private owners, operated by Air Winston, as a 14 CFR Part 91 maintenance test flight, crashed into a house in a residential area while attempting to return to the Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight originated from the Smith Reynolds Airport about 4 minutes before the accident. Review of recorded transmissions between Smith Reynolds Tower and N9365V revealed N9365V took off from runway 33 at 1051. The pilot was cleared to depart to the northwest. At 1054, N9365V informed the tower, "uh power lost and uh we're just to the north." The tower informed N9365V to do whatever he needed to do, and cleared another airplane (Carolina) to turn left on course. The tower asked N9365V what kind of assistance he needed. N9365V replied, "straight in for runway one five." N9365V was initially cleared to land on runway 15, and was cleared to land on any runway, 28 seconds later at 1055. N9365V stated , "I don't believe we're gonna make it." There were no other recorded conversations with N9365V. A witness located in the parking lot of Forsyth Technical Community College Wooddruff Center, observed the airplane about .45 miles from the northeast end of the Smith-Reynolds Airport. The witness stated, "A departing aircraft attracted my attention because the engine noise did not sound normal. I can
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to conduct a maintenance test flight with a known unairworthy mechanical condition (unserviceable servo fuel injector), resulting in a partial loss of engine power on climb out, subsequent forced landing, and in-flight collision with trees and a private residence.
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Browse: North Carolina · 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.
