# Accident 19961228040719A: Mooney M20C, Roxboro, NC, December 28, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 28, 1996, 10:09 local time
- Place: Roxboro, NC
- Airport: Person County Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.4009° N, 78.9797° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4009&lon=-78.9797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7773M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7773M-1999-10-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Reported engine: LYC IO360A1D6
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 389 total, 17 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97FA029) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961228040719A

## Narrative

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

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)

## 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 ATL97FA029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97FA029), Dec 28, 1996: Mooney M20C (N7773M), Roxboro, NC, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: failure 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…

## Other reports on N7773M (2)

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

- [Incident 19840825070989I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840825070989I), Aug 25, 1984: Mooney M20C (N7773M), Norfolk, VA, Minor damage. Problem starting aircraft due to low battery. After takeoff lost electrical. Gear light, horn inop. Gear collapsed.
- [Incident 19800402047099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800402047099I), Apr 2, 1980: Mooney M20C (N7773M), Richmond, VA, Minor damage. Bounced on landing, hit hard on the nose wheel. Propeller damaged.

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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