# Accident 20020930026799A: Mooney M20J, Oakley, ID, September 30, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2002, 16:30 local time
- Place: Oakley, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.2450° N, 113.8794° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2450&lon=-113.8794&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4232H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4232H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20J (registry code 5870219, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA02LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA187) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020930026799A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 16:30 MDT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT FROM GRAND JUNCTION COLORADO TO BOISE IDAHO, THE ENGINE LOST OIL PRESSURE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GET THE AIRCRAFT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT (OAKLEY, ID 1U6) BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND ENGINE POWER. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A ROAD AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL LANDING, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WING LEADING EDGES HIT SOME MAIL BOXES ADJACENT TO THE ROAD AND WERE DENTED. THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED. AFTER LANDING THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS OIL ON THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CLEAN. HE SAID HE CHECKED THE OIL PRIOR TO FLIGHT.

## 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 SEA02LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA187), Sep 30, 2002: Mooney M20J (N4232H), Oakley, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure (fracture) of the two number four piston compression rings, leading to the erosion of a section of the piston sidewall, resulting in the exhaustion of the engine's oil supply during cruise…

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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