# Accident 19960825023919A: Mooney M20J, Lubbock, TX, August 25, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 25, 1996, 17:08 local time
- Place: Lubbock, TX
- Airport: Lubbock International Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6787° N, 101.9935° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from the FAA’s distance and direction from , within about 3 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6787&lon=-101.9935&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4538H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4538H-2013-08-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW96LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA357) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960825023919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER AND PILOT MADE EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. (-23) THIS PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED LBB FOR LRU AFTER TOPPING OFF HIS FUEL TANKS ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT PLAN IN VMC CONDITIONS. DURING CLIMB-OUT AT 5600 MSL, THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER. THE PIC BEGAN TO FLY TOWARDS REESE AFB. HE CALLED LBB TOWER AND TOLD THEM HE HAD LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT MAKE IT TO REESE. HE LANDED IN A COTTON FIELD WHERE HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE DUAL MAGNETO HAD COME LOOSE DISENGAGING THE DRIVE GEAR AND KILLING THE IGNITION SYSTEM.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW96LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA357), Aug 25, 1996: Mooney M20J (N4538H), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: inadequate maintenance by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a total loss of engine power when the magneto disengaged from the engine. A related factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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