What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The accident involved a Mooney, model M20C, registration number N9187V. The aircraft is on a part 135 certificate for quonset airways, certificate # FRGA996D. The aircraft was being operated in a part 91 capacity for personal use. The accident occurred at Newport State Airport, Newport, RI, on 4/20/2000 at approximately 1715 hours EDT. Pilot and passenger (certificated private pilot) stated that they uncovered, untied the aircraft, both conducted a thorough preflight inspection including sumping both fuel tanks, pulled center drain, checked oil, and performed run-up. All normal. Aircraft back taxied on runway 16 for a take-off on runway 16. Take-off roll was initiated, boost pump on, fuel selector on left tank, landing light on, full power, normal acceleration. Rotated at approximately 60-65 knots and aircraft became airborne. When aircraft reached approximately 80-100 feet AGL and approximately to the intersection of runways 16 and 22 the engine stopped suddenly. Pilot stated that he pushed the nose over to maintain airspeed, noted the trees directly ahead and chose to attempt a landing in the grass to the right of runway 16. Aircraft came to rest somewhat parallel to runways 22/4. Pilot stated that he shut fuel selector to off, shut the battery master power to off, removed the seat belts and with the passenger, departed the aircraft. The aircraft was moved from the crash site at approximately 2300 hours EDT after pictures and statements were taken. The aircraft was resting in a depression and heavy rains were expected. During the investigation the fuel sumped from the left tank contained approximately 30% water, the carburetor bowl contained approximately 95% water, and the line to the carburetor contained approximately 75% water.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE ACCIDENT INVOLVED A MOONEY, MODEL M20C, REGISTRATION NUMBER N9187V. THE AIRCRAFT IS ON A PART 135 CERTIFICATE FOR QUONSET AIRWAYS, CERTIFICATE # FRGA996D. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED IN A PART 91 CAPACITY FOR PERSONAL USE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT NEWPORT STATE AIRPORT, NEWPORT, RI, ON 4/20/2000 AT APPROXIMATELY 1715 HOURS EDT. PILOT AND PASSENGER (CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT) STATED THAT THEY UNCOVERED, UNTIED THE AIRCRAFT, BOTH CONDUCTED A THOROUGH PREFLIGHT INSPECTION INCLUDING SUMPING BOTH FUEL TANKS, PULLED CENTER DRAIN, CHECKED OIL, AND PERFORMED RUN-UP. ALL NORMAL. AIRCRAFT BACK TAXIED ON RUNWAY 16 FOR A TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 16. TAKE-OFF ROLL WAS INITIATED, BOOST PUMP ON, FUEL SELECTOR ON LEFT TANK, LANDING LIGHT ON, FULL POWER, NORMAL ACCELERATION. ROTATED AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 KNOTS AND AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. WHEN AIRCRAFT REACHED APPROXIMATELY 80-100 FEET AGL AND APPROXIMATELY TO THE INTERSECTION OF RUNWAYS 16 AND 22 THE ENGINE STOPPED SUDDENLY. PILOT STATED THAT HE PUSHED THE NOSE OVER TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, NOTED THE TREES DIRECTLY AHEAD AND CHOSE TO ATTEMPT A LANDING IN THE GRASS TO THE RIGHT OF RUNWAY 16. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST SOMEWHAT PARALLEL TO RUNWAYS 22/4. PILOT STATED THAT HE SHUT FUEL SELECTOR TO OFF, SHUT THE BATTERY MASTER POWER TO OFF, REMOVED THE SEAT BELTS AND WITH THE PASSENGER, DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED FROM THE CRASH SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 2300 HOURS EDT AFTER PICTURES AND STATEMENTS WERE TAKEN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RESTING IN A DEPRESSION AND HEAVY RAINS WERE EXPECTED. DURING THE INVESTIGATION THE FUEL SUMPED FROM THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 30% WATER, THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 95% WATER, AND THE LINE TO THE CARBURETOR CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 75% WATER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.