19961228040719A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20C · Roxboro, NC · December 28, 1996

Date: December 28, 1996 · 10:09 local
Place: Roxboro, NC
Airport: Person County Airport
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7773M
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL97FA029
Reported as: Mooney M20C
Reported engine: Lycoming IO360A1D6
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 389 total17 in this make and model17 in the last 90 days

N7773MRegistration cancelled Oct 27, 1999 · Mooney M20CS/N 20-0019 Airframe modelMooney M20C

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.

Departed near zero IMC. Reported lost vacuum and control on climbout. Hit trees. Codeine use. Part panel skill. (-23) aircraft N7773M departed tdf on December 28, 1996 at 1505Z. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft entered IMC conditions. At 1506Z the pilot reported to raleigh ATC "Mooney seven three mike I've just lost my vacuum". At 1507Z the pilot lost control of the aircraft and impacted the ground. (Actual instrument time 9.8 hours) (actual instrument last 90 days, 0.4 hours)

As the FAA filed it

DEPARTED NEAR ZERO IMC. REPORTED LOST VACUUM AND CONTROL ON CLIMBOUT. HIT TREES. CODEINE USE. PART PANEL SKILL. (-23) AIRCRAFT N7773M DEPARTED TDF ON DECEMBER 28, 1996 AT 1505Z. SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS. AT 1506Z THE PILOT REPORTED TO RALEIGH ATC "MOONEY SEVEN THREE MIKE I'VE JUST LOST MY VACUUM". AT 1507Z THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. (ACTUAL INSTRUMENT TIME 9.8 HOURS) (ACTUAL INSTRUMENT LAST 90 DAYS, 0.4 HOURS)

NTSB investigation

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

NTSB ATL97FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportRoxboro, NCfailure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane, due to spatial disorientation. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's use of an unapproved drug, low ceiling, restricted visibility (fog), and an undetermined anomaly with the vacuum system.Dec 28, 1996 · Destroyed

Other reports on N7773M · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19840825070989IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Norfolk, VAProblem starting aircraft due to low battery. After takeoff lost electrical. Gear light, horn inop. Gear collapsed.Aug 25, 1984 · Minor damage Incident 19800402047099ILevel Off Touchdown · Richmond, VABounced on landing, hit hard on the nose wheel. Propeller damaged.Apr 2, 1980 · Minor damage