# Accident 20020808022989A: Mooney M20A, Marysvale, UT, August 8, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2002, 20:00 local time
- Place: Marysvale, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3731° N, 112.3731° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3731&lon=-112.3731&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1088B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1088B-2014-09-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20A (registry code 5870204, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20a) (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 M20A
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN02FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02FA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020808022989A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1930 HOURS ON 8/8/02 MOONEY 1088B DEPARTED RICHFIELD, UTAH AIRPORT AFTER TAKING ON 41.9 GALLONS OF FUEL. FUEL CAPACITY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 49 GALLONS. THREE PASSENGERS AND THE PILOT WERE ABOARD THE AIRCRFT. WITNESSES REPORTED ALL TO BE LARGE MEN ESTIMATED AT 200 POUNDS EACH. WITH FULL FUEL THE AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE BEEN 200 POUNDS ABOVE ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF. NO WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED NOR A FLIGHT PLAN FILED WITH CEDAR CITY FLIGHT SERVICE. AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 HOURS THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A MOUNTAIN RIDGE 28 NM SW OF THE RICHFIELD AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING PARALLEL TO THE RIDGE AT 12,147 MSL ON AN EASTERLY HEADING WHEN ITS RIGHT WING STRUCK THE RIDGE 10 FEET FROM THE TOP. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE RIDGE NOSE FIRST 147 FEET FROM THE POINT WHERE THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE RIDGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING TOWARD THE HIGHEST TERRAIN IN THE AREA AND WAS 29 FEET BELOW THE HIGHEST TERRAIN WHEN IT CRASHED. PREVAILING WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE PUT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF THE RIDGE WHICH WOULD RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT BEING IN A DOWNDRAFT. PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLY OVER TERRAIN THAT WAS RISING FASTER THAN THE AIRCRAFT COULD CLIMB.

## 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 DEN02FA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02FA089), Aug 9, 2002: Mooney M20A (N1088B), Marysvale, UT, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's poor in-flight decision to fly so close to the ridge (looking for animals). Contributing factors were the mountainous terrain condition, the downdraft weather conditions in high…

## Other reports on N1088B (1)

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

- [Incident 19941210044299I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941210044299I), Dec 10, 1994: Mooney M20A (N1088B), Boise, ID, Minor damage. Right main gear collapsed on landing. Manual over center locking devise failed.

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.