# Accident 20040717014119A: Mooney M20C, Escalante, UT, July 17, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2004, 19:00 local time
- Place: Escalante, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7444° N, 111.3036° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7444&lon=-111.3036&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6773U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6773U-2013-07-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20C (registry code 5870208, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (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 M20C
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040717014119A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES ON A SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION ACCOMPANIED BY ABNORMAL NOISE AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COWLING. PILOT CLOSED THROTTLE AND BEGAN PREPARING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. PILOT WISHED TO EXTEND HIS LANDING SO HE ADDED POWER BACK TO THE ENGINE AND THE VIBRATION BECAME AGGRAVATED SO HE AGAIN CLOSED THE THROTTLE. PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON A SAGE BRUSH COVERED SAND DUNE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ALL THREE LANDING GEAR, PROPELLER, AND UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO ARM AND HAND, NO OTHER INJURIES. NO POST CRASH FIRE. PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD TO HIKE OUT OVER NIGHT FROM THE EXTREMELY REMOTE AND RUGGED AREA.

## 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 DEN04LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA105), Jul 18, 2004: Mooney M20C (N6773U), Escalante, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the improper installation of an oil pan quick-drain fitting resulting in the loss of engine oil, failure of the engine, and subsequent impact with terrain following an attempted forced landing. A…

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.