# Accident 19990731018359A: Mooney M20F, Montrose, CO, July 31, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 31, 1999 - Place: Montrose, CO - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 38.4899° N, 107.8709° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4899&lon=-107.8709&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9390V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9390V-2018-08-10) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Mooney M20F (registry code 5870214, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20f) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20F - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN99LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA133) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990731018359A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19)ON JULY 31, 1999, APPROXIMATELY 1030 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, A MOONEY M20F, N9390V, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKOFF NEAR MONTROSE, COLORADO. THE PIRVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT ABOARD, SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT BEING OPEREATED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION INDICATES THAT ON JULY 28, 1999, THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE FROM EVANSTON, WYOMING, TO DURANGO, COLORADO. THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE GAUGE PEAKED AND FEARING ENGINE DAMAGE, THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A COUNTY ROAD. A MECHANIC FROM A NEARBY AIRPORT WAS SUMMONED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE BUT THE GAUGE WAS DISPLAYING ERRONEOUS INFORMATION. A FERRY PERMIT WAS OBTAINED FROM FAA'S FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE ROAD. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT EXAMINED THE ROADWAY AND DETERMINED HE COULD SAFELY DEPART. TRAFFIC WAS HALTED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK A 4"X4" POST SUPPORTING A SPEED LIMIT SIGN. (-23) PILOT PERFORMED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A HIGHWAY IN COLORADO DUE TO A HIGH CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE READING WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTFROM EVANSTON, WY TO DURANGO CO 07-29-99 AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT FROM THE SLC FSDO TO CONDUCT A FERRY FLIGHT FOR REPAIRS TO DURANGO CO. MECHANIC ^PRIVACY^ WENT TO THE SCENE AND PERFORMED ENGINE INSPECTION AND CONCLUDED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ENGINE CHECKS WERE COMPLETED AND ENGINE SEEMED TO BE DEVELOPING FULL POWER. WHEN THE PRELIMINARY MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED, MECHANIC ADVISED THE PILOT/OWNER NOT TO TAKE OFF FROM THE STATE HIGHWAY THAT HE HAD LANDED ON BUT TO USE A SMALLER COUNTY ROAD. PILOT CONDUCTED A TAKEOFF ZONE CHECK AND STATED "IT WAS TIGHT BUT I THOUGH IT WOULD BE OK." DURING TAKEOFF, PILOT STRUCK A ROAD SIGN AND CRASHED. PILOT WAS HELICOPTER MEDEVACED TO GJT HOSPITAL FOR SERIOUS INJURIES. ## 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 DEN99LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA133), Jul 31, 1999: Mooney M20F (N9390V), Montrose, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation and his failure to maintain clearance from the signpost. A factor was the signpost. ## Other reports on N9390V (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19990726025149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990726025149I), Jul 26, 1999: Mooney M20F (N9390V), Montrose, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot made a precautionary landing on drag creek road highway 141, drag creek basin, between telluride and Montrose, CO. Pilot relayed to zdv that aircraft had… - [Incident 19900419020919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900419020919I), Apr 19, 1990: Mooney M20F (N9390V), Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. Appears pilot retracted landing gear before attaining flying speed. Settled back on runway coming to a stop. 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.