# Accident 19970520011149A: Mooney M20F, Wheeling, IL, May 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 1997, 18:18 local time
- Place: Wheeling, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1297° N, 87.9205° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1297&lon=-87.9205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6950V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6950V-2003-03-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (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 M20F
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 355 total, 54 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970520011149A

## Narrative

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

ON TAKEOFF CLIMBED TO 4000FT. NOTIFIED CONTROL ENINGE FAILURE, VECTORED BACK. UNABLE, EMERGENCY LANDING IN FIELD. (.4)ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER MAINTENANCE, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON THE INITIAL CLIMB, 'THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER AND BEGAN BEHAVING ERRATICALLY.' THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY TO THE CONTROLLING ATC PERSONNEL, AND TURNED BACK TO PALWAUKEE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE, 'WAS BACKFIRING AND SOUNDED LIKE ONLY ONE CYLINDER WAS HITTING.'  THE PILOT SELECTED A FIELD TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING, CIRCLED IT TWICE, AND LANDED ON AN EASTERLY HEADING.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PLANE, AFTER TOUCH DOWN, 'SKIDDED AND ROLLED FOR ABOUT 250 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO REST ON THE BANK OF A SMALL CREEK.'  THE PILOT EVACUATED THE AIRPLANE AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE.  EXAMINATION OF THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER REVEALED EXCESSIVE BLACK CARBON BUILD-UP ON THE CYLINDER HEAD AND EXHAUST VALVE SEAT.        (-23)ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.  UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, PIC EXECUTED AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING.  HE OVERSHOT HIS INTENDED TOUCHDOWN SPOT TO AVOID PEOPLE.

## 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 CHI97LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA142), May 20, 1997: Mooney M20F (N6950V), Wheeling, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: binding of the number four exhaust valve, which resulted in a partial power loss. A factor was the ravine.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.