# Accident 19990407003219A: Mooney M20J, Vienna, IL, April 7, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 1999
- Place: Vienna, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4107° N, 88.8908° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4107&lon=-88.8908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9969X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9969X-2013-08-16) (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 CHI99LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA122) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990407003219A

## Narrative

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

ACFT ENGINE FIALED, AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD NEXT TO I-24, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 3 MILES NORTH OF VIENNA, IL. (.19) ON APRIL 7, 1999, AT 1530 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A MOONEY M20J, N9969X, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR VIENNA, ILLINOIS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT, PADUCAH, KENTUCKY EN ROUTE TO AIRLAKE AIRPORT NEAR MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER (ATCT) AT BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT. HE ASKED THE ATCT  FOR RADAR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. ATCT INFORMED HIM THAT THEY HAD NO RADAR AND THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MEMPHIS AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) FOR THOSE SERVICES. HE CONTACTED MEMPHIS ARTCC AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WAS TOO LOW FOR THEIR RADAR. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS GOING TO LAND ON HIGHWAY 24. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND IN A PASTURE APPROXIMATELY      THREE MILES NORTH OF VIENNA, ILLINOIS. THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED AND HAS STATED THAT HE DOES NOT RECALL THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. (-23) APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF FROM BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT IN PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH ATCT AT BARKLEY AND ASKED FOR VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND IN A PASTURE APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES NORTH OF VIENNA, ILLINOIS, WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. A WITNESS HAS STATED THAT HE HEARD THE ENGINE CUTTING OUT AND THEN QUITTING ALTOGETHER PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT GOING DOWN.

## 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 CHI99LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA122), Apr 7, 1999: Mooney M20J (N9969X), Vienna, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: The worn ignition points/cam follower assembly, and uneven landing terrain.

## Other reports on N9969X (1)

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

- [Accident 19950423013799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950423013799A), Apr 23, 1995: Mooney M20J (N9969X), Cleveland, OH, Substantial damage. Narrative: prior to accident, pilot stated he had rough running engine. While running the engine during the accident investigation, it was noted that there…

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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