20030309003899A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20J · Tower, MI · March 9, 2003

Date: March 9, 2003 · 20:36 local
Place: Tower, MI
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N201ZM
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03FA080
Reported as: Mooney M20J
Reported engine: Continental IO360*
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Pilot’s flight hours: 731 total490 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N201ZMRegistration cancelled Aug 27, 2003 · Mooney M20JS/N 24-0522 · Built 1978 Airframe modelMooney M20J Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Aircraft departed ptk on IFR flight for slh with one passenger on board. At 19:56 pilot checked on with zmp-artcc. Pilot reported in clouds and requested higher, he was then cleared to 8,000 ft. at 20:16 pilot was cleared to 5,000 ft. and changed to sector 02 freq. At 20:27 pilot reported level at 5,000 ft. and was then cleared to 4,000 ft. at 20:28 pilot informed ATC he wished to attempt a visual approach. At 20:31 he reported level at 4,000 ft. at 20:33 he was cleared to 3,000 ft. at 20:35 the controller reported radar contact lost, the pilot then reported he was in IMC and requested a clearance to return to ptk. ATC cleared him to climb to 7,000 and direct ptk. Aircraft crashed in a wooded area approximately one minute later. Impact was near vertical at a high rate of speed. Note: times are EST.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED PTK ON IFR FLIGHT FOR SLH WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD. AT 19:56 PILOT CHECKED ON WITH ZMP-ARTCC. PILOT REPORTED IN CLOUDS AND REQUESTED HIGHER, HE WAS THEN CLEARED TO 8,000 FT. AT 20:16 PILOT WAS CLEARED TO 5,000 FT. AND CHANGED TO SECTOR 02 FREQ. AT 20:27 PILOT REPORTED LEVEL AT 5,000 FT. AND WAS THEN CLEARED TO 4,000 FT. AT 20:28 PILOT INFORMED ATC HE WISHED TO ATTEMPT A VISUAL APPROACH. AT 20:31 HE REPORTED LEVEL AT 4,000 FT. AT 20:33 HE WAS CLEARED TO 3,000 FT. AT 20:35 THE CONTROLLER REPORTED RADAR CONTACT LOST, THE PILOT THEN REPORTED HE WAS IN IMC AND REQUESTED A CLEARANCE TO RETURN TO PTK. ATC CLEARED HIM TO CLIMB TO 7,000 AND DIRECT PTK. AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LATER. IMPACT WAS NEAR VERTICAL AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NOTE: TIMES ARE EST.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI03FA080Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportTower, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during cruise flight. A factor to the accident was the clouds and night conditions.Mar 10, 2003 · Destroyed

Other reports on N201ZM · 1

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

Incident 19970404007549ILevel Off Touchdown · Midland, MIMr. Bitzer stated that he was coming from pontiac (ptc), MI and was prepared to land at Midland Barstow (3BS) on runway 24. He stated that the winds were 220 @ 10. Mr. Bitzer stated he used the approach checklist on approach and used the landing checklist for…Apr 4, 1997 · Minor damage