# Accident 20020930028939A: Mooney M20E, Kutztown, PA, September 30, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2002, 15:35 local time
- Place: Kutztown, PA
- Airport: Kutztown Aviation Service Inc
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6653° N, 74.3081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6653&lon=-74.3081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5556Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5556Q-2013-01-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20E (registry code 5870212, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02FA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02FA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020930028939A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AT 1535 EST, N5556Q, AN M20E, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXPLODED IN A WOODED AREA 176 FEET WEST OF RUNWAY 14 SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. LOCAL AUTHORITIES RESPONDED AND REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE WITH THE PILOT INSIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE PILOTS IDENTITY WAS CONFIRMED THE NEXT DAY AT THE AUTOPSY. DOCUMENTED ACCIDENT SCENE AND PARTIAL ENGINE INSPECTIONS WITH NTSB, AND LYCOMING TECH. INSPECTED FUEL NOZZLES; ALL NOZZLES FOUND TO BE CLEAN. DISCREPANCIES FOUND AS FOLLOWS: FUEL SERVO FILTER SCREEN AND FUEL DISTRIBUTOR VALVE ON TOP OF ENGINE (SPIDER) BOTH FOUND WITH VISIBLE SIGNS OF WATER DROPLETS. BOTH WERE TESTED WITH PASTE. OBTAINED AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND AIRFRAME LOGBOOKS FROM FAMILY THROUGH NJ STATE POLICE. NINE RESPONSIBILITIES REVIEWED.

## 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 NYC02FA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02FA200), Sep 30, 2002: Mooney M20E (N5556Q), West Creek, NJ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which failed to detect water-contaminated fuel, and his failure to maintain airspeed.

## Other reports on N5556Q (1)

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

- [Incident 19780407008349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780407008349I), Apr 7, 1978: Mooney M20E (N5556Q), Long Beach, CA, Minor damage. Gear collapsed after forced landing. Engine had quit after takeoff due to mixture control failure.

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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