# Accident 20000204011829A: Mooney M20C, Robbinsville, NC, February 4, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: February 4, 2000, 15:36 local time - Place: Robbinsville, NC - Damage: No damage - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 35.1892° N, 83.8202° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1892&lon=-83.8202&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5743N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5743N-2002-02-07) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA00LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA082) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000204011829A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) N5743N WAS ENROUTE FROM RIC TO DKX WHEN IT CRASHED NEAR ROBBINSVILLE, NC WHICH IS LOCATED IN GRAHAM COUNTY, NC. PILOT RECEIVED 22 GALLONS OF 100LL BEFORE TAKING OFF FROM THE RICHMOND AIRPORT. PILOT HAD AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FILED OUT OF RIC.SOMEWHERE ALONG THE ROUTE THE REQUESTED TO CANCEL HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND CHANGE TO VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING.PILOT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING UNDER THE IFR FLIGHT PLAN, ATLANTA ARTCC REQUESTED HIM TO GO TO A HIGHER ALTITUDE AND HE DID NOT WANT TO BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO ICING CONDITIONS. PILOT'S ORIGINAL FLIGHT PLAN INCLUDED A FUEL STOP. WHEN HE REQUESTED A CHANGE IN HIS FLIGHT PLAN ATLANTA ARTCC AGREED TO OF THE CHANGE BUT REMAINED THE PILOT THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE HIS FUEL STOP. THE PILOT UNDERSTOOD AND STATED THAT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO GET HIM TO HIS DESTINATION. N5743N WAS LOST ON RADAR AT 5500 FEET JUST PAST THE HARRIS VOR. N5743N NEVER DID REAPPEAR ON RADAR. PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 4500 FEET. HIS STATEMENT SAID THE ENGINE QUIT BETWEEN HIS HAND OFF FROM ATLANTA ARTCC TO KNOXVILLE ATC. HE DID NOT STATE ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS TO THE KNOXVIL LE CONTROLLERS. THE PILOTS COMMUNICATIONS WITH KNOXVILLE TOWER WERE: 1)REQUEST OF FLIGHT FOLLOWING INTO KNOXVILLE, TN AROUND MADISONVILLE, TN. 2)TO INFORM THE TOWER THAT HE WAS COMING UP SIDE OF ATHENS, TN (N5743N CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA NEAR ROBBINSVILLE) THE LAST TRANSMISSION TO KNOXVILLE ATC WAS A RELAY TRANSMISSION THROGH A NORTHWEST FLIGHT CREW. THE NORTHWEST FLIGHT CREW INFORMED KNOXVILLE ATC THAT THEY THOUGH T HE PILOT OF N5743N SAID SOMETHING ABOUT GOING TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE GAVE NO WARNING, IT LITERALLY STOPPED AND THE PROPELLER FROZE. PILOT TRIED TO PERFORM A CONTROLLED LANDING INTO THE THREES. ON-SITE INVESTIGATION SUGGESTS THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY 12-15 GALLONS OF FUEL AND THAT THE LEFT HAD A VERY MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE INTACT. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF FUEL SEEPAGE/SPILLAGE ON THE SURROUNDING GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS LIGHT SNOW WHILE FLYING. AT THE CRASH SITE THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE NEVER DID TURN ON CARBURETOR HEAT ON. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT IN ICING CONDITIONS. THE ENGINE TEARDOWN RESULTS INDICATED FOULED UP SPARKPLUGS, THE ENGINE WAS LOW ON COMPRESSION, AND IT APPEARED THAT THERE WAS AN INCING PROBLEM. ## 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 MIA00LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA082), Feb 4, 2000: Mooney M-20C (N5743N), Andrews, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in a timely manner while maneuvering in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, resulting in the loss of engine power and collision with trees during the… ## Other reports on N5743N (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19920325009839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920325009839I), Mar 25, 1992: Mooney M20C (N5743N), Flora, IL, Minor damage. Pilot stated lost power on approach. Landed off airport. Found throttle casellated nut loose at carburetor. 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.