# Accident 20090930050009A: Mooney M20M, Albany, IN, September 30, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2009, 12:37 local time
- Place: Albany, IN
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2881° N, 85.1639° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2881&lon=-85.1639&mi=10
- Aircraft: N400DE, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400DE-2011-01-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mooney M20M (registry code 5870222, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20M
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 450 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09FA610](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA610) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090930050009A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS WHILE ON A FLIGHT FROM TRAVERSE CITY (KTVS) TO GRAND RAPIDS (KGRR). THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED OVERFLYING GRAND RAPIDS AND CONTINUED ON A SOUTHERLY COURSE AT FLIGHT LEVEL 250. MILITARY INTERCEPTORS MADE VISUAL CONTACT AND REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SLUMPED FORWARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS KEPT UNDER MILITARY SURVEILLANCE UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION WHICH OCCURED NEAR MUNCIE, INDIANA (KMIE). THE AIRCRAFT MADE SEVERAL WIDE RIGHT TURNS WHILE LOSING ALTITUDE AND EVENTUALLY IMPACTED INTO A CORNFIELD APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALBANY, INDIANA. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREES AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 20 FEET WHILE IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK SHEARING OFF BOTH WINGS AT THE WING ROOTS. GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE 25 TO 30 FEET PAST THE TREE LINE. THE FUSELAGE CONTINUED TO SLIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 160 FEET SHEDDING THE EMPENNAGE AND COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED MOST OF THE CABIN STRUCTURE.

## 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 CEN09FA610](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09FA610), Sep 30, 2009: Mooney M20M (N400DE), Albany, IN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The incapacitation of the pilot during high-altitude cruise flight for undetermined reasons.

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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