# Accident 20030309003899A: Mooney M20J, Tower, MI, March 9, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2003, 20:36 local time
- Place: Tower, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.3528° N, 84.3439° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3528&lon=-84.3439&mi=10
- Aircraft: N201ZM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N201ZM-2003-08-27) (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
- Reported engine: CONT IO360*
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 731 total, 490 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA080) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030309003899A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 CHI03FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA080), Mar 10, 2003: Mooney M20J (N201ZM), Tower, MI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during cruise flight. A factor to the accident was the clouds and night conditions.

## Other reports on N201ZM (1)

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

- [Incident 19970404007549I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970404007549I), Apr 4, 1997: Mooney M20J (N201ZM), Midland, MI, Minor damage. Mr. 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 @…

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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