As rare as these types
of incidents have proven to be, one must still include their
personal airworthiness in the final decision to commit to flight,
to avoid the kind of tragedies that may have caused this loss of a
brother aviator. While there is yet no solid info to suggest that
this accident had a medical cause, we can't help but caution
everyone to make sure that their personal condition is as
flight-ready as their aircraft's.
Flyer beware...
NTSB Identification: FTW04FA055
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, January 03, 2004 in Amarillo, TX
Aircraft: Mooney M20C, registration: N6834N
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB's Preliminary Report
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On January 3, 2004, approximately 1445 central standard time, a
Mooney M20C single-engine airplane, N6934N, was destroyed following
collision with terrain near Amarillo, Texas. The certificated
private pilot/co-owner was fatally injured. No flight plan was
filed for the cross-country flight that originated at Tradewind
Airport (TDW), near Amarillo, Texas, about 1441, destined for
Lamesa Municipal Airport (2F5), near Lamesa, Texas. Visual
meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed for the personal flight
conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
A witness, who was located at an airport about 10 miles south of
the accident site, initially observed the airplane as it headed
south at an approximate altitude of 1,200 to 1,500 feet above
ground level. He then saw the airplane make a descending,
180-degree right turn. The airplane continued to descend
(approximately 150-200 feet per minute) until it disappeared from
his view. The witness added that the engine was "loud" and
operating at full power during the turn. The landing gear were up,
and there were no "apparent difficulties" with the airplane.
Additionally, several other witnesses observed the airplane
descending in a steep bank prior to impacting the ground.
A preliminary review of the air traffic control (ATC) voice
communications revealed the pilot made initial contact with
Amarillo Approach Control at 1441, and requested visual flight
rules (VFR) flight following. Approximately four minutes later,
he reported that he was having "chest pains" and wanted to
return to the "ground." There were no further
communications with the pilot.
At 1449, a pilot that
was flying in the local area, reported to ATC the airplane had
crashed about 1-mile southwest of Tradewind Airport.
The airplane wreckage was examined at the accident site on
January 04, 2004. All major components of the airplane were
accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest in a plowed
field, at an elevation of approximately 3,260 feet mean sea level
(msl), on a magnetic heading of 093 degrees. The accident site was
located at approximately 035 degrees, 10 minutes north latitude,
and 101 degrees, 50 minutes west longitude.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane
single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) third class medical certificate was issued on April 3,
2002.
Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed he had a total of
1,142.2 hours, of which, 799 hours were in make and model.
The weather observation facility at Tradewind Airport, at 1353,
reported the wind from 060 degrees at 07 knots, 10 statute mile
visibility, clear skies, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.74
inches Mercury. The temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit, and the
dew point was 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
** Report created
1/7/2004 Record 14 **
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 6934N Make/Model: MO20 Description: MO-20
Date: 01/03/2004 Time: 2045
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N
Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: AMARILLO State: TX Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO LAND AFTER PILOT REPORTING CHEST PAINS,
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE PERSON ON BOARD
WAS FATALLY INJURED, AMARILLO, TX
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: 2103Z 04004KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A2974
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: General
Aviation
Departed: AMARILLO, TX Dep Date: 01/03/2004 Dep. Time:
2042
Destination: LAMESA, TX Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: 2 MILES SW OF AMARILLO,TX
Last Clearance: SQK 1573 CONTACT DEPARTURE ON 119.5
FAA FSDO: LUBBOCK, TX (SW13) Entry date: 01/05/2004
NTSB Prelim: Vans RV-7A
See All