# Accident 20090722011629A: Mooney M20C, Elma, WA, July 22, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2009, 14:45 local time
- Place: Elma, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.0414° N, 123.4347° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0414&lon=-123.4347&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6422U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6422U-2017-03-10) (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: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA362) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090722011629A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 22, 2009 AT APPROX. 2:45 PM, N64422U, A MOONEY M20C, S/N 2169, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PILOTED BY THE REGISTERED OWNER OF A FIRE WATCH PATROL, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FOLLOWING AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES, POWER TRANSMISSION LINES AND TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF ELMA, WASHINGTON.  AN AFTER IMPACT FIRE, DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS DECEASED AND THE SOLE OCCUPANT.  THE CRASH SITE ADDRESS IS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.  ONE WITNESS OBSERVED SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE AIRPLANE AS IT DESCENDED TOWARDS THE TREES AND A SECOND WITNESS SAID HE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A TRUCK COMING DOWN THE HILL WITH JAKE BRAKE ON.

## 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 WPR09LA362](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA362), Jul 22, 2009: Mooney M20C (N6422U), Elma, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the fatigue failure of the number 4 cylinder connecting rod.

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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