19890904035409A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mooney M20 · West Branch, MI · September 4, 1989

Date
September 4, 1989 · 16:50 local
Place
West Branch, MI
Airport
West Branch Community Airport
Phase of flight
Starting Engines
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N5292B
NTSB investigation
NTSBCHI89DEM08
Reported as
Mooney M20
Reported engine
Lycoming O320A3A
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
463 total158 in this make and model

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Hand propped engine started. Passenger opened throttle. Aircraft struck a ditch and stopped. Aircraft not secured.

As the FAA filed it

HAND PROPPED ENGINE STARTED. PASSENGER OPENED THROTTLE. AIRCRAFT STRUCK A DITCH AND STOPPED. AIRCRAFT NOT SECURED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.