# Accident 20000421040009A: Mooney M20J, Norton, VA, April 21, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2000, 11:45 local time
- Place: Norton, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9309° N, 82.6191° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9309&lon=-82.6191&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5632H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5632H-2018-01-30) (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
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Pilot flight hours: 1,815 total, 1,030 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00FA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000421040009A

## Narrative

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

(.4)PRIOR TO DEPARTURE THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING, WHICH INCLUDED FLIGHT ADVISORIES FOR ICING ALONG HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 9,000 FEET WHEN THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS 'RIDING IN THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS.' THE PILOT REQUESTED AND WAS CLEARED TO CLIMB TO 11,000 FEET. THE AIRPLANE LEVELED OFF AT 9,400 FEET; THEN BEGAN ANOTHER CLIMB, AND REACHED A MAXIMUM ALTITUDE OF 9,700 FEET. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED A STEEP VERTICAL DESCENT, AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 3,600 FEET, IN UNEVEN, WOODED TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. SATELLITE DATA OBTAINED FOR THE FLIGHT INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR ICING IN THE AREA OF THE AIRPLANE'S LAST RADAR RETURN. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT APPROVED FOR FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS. AN AIRPLANE WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S WEIGHT WAS ABOUT 2,945 POUNDS, AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG) WAS ABOUT 142.88 INCHES, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT FOR THE AIRPLANE WAS 2,740 POUNDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CG RANGE AT THE MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT WAS ABOUT 128 TO 138 INCHES. (-23) MOONEY N5632H WAS IN CRUISE AT 9000 FT. PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS "RIDING IN THE TOPS OF THE CLOUDS", AND REQUESTED A CLIMB TO 11,000 FEET THE NTAP SHOWS THE AIRCRAFT REACHING 9600 FEET THEN DROPPING TO 8000 FEET IN ABOUT 10 SECONDS WHERE IT DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED BY THE CIVIL AIR PATROL ON APRIL 22, 2000, AT ABOUT 1245. IT APPEARS THAT IT DESCENDED VERTICALLY CAUSING DAMAGE TO ONLY ONE TREE. ALL AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS FOUND AT THE SCENE. NO APPARENT FAILURE OF AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.

## 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 NYC00FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00FA118), Apr 21, 2000: Mooney M20J (N5632H), Norton, VA, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's improper weather evaluation, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. Factors in this accident were icing conditions, and aircraft loading which exceed the airplane's weight and…

## Other reports on N5632H (1)

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

- [Accident 19870109000479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870109000479A), Jan 9, 1987: Mooney M20J (N5632H), Kalamazoo, MI, Substantial damage. The engine failed from snow ingestion. Pilot did not communicate emergency with ATC. Landed short of runway.

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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