# Accident 20120303021289A: Mooney M20M, Wakefield, VA, March 3, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 3, 2012, 14:30 local time
- Place: Wakefield, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8083° N, 78.0772° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8083&lon=-78.0772&mi=10
- Aircraft: N486KC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N486KC-2012-06-01) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 100 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA206) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120303021289A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED ENGINE TROUBLE WHILE ENROUTE FROM GEORGETOWN, SC (KGGE) TO HAGERSTOWN, MD (KHGR) AND ASKED FOR DESCENT TO 5000'.  APPROACHING 5.000' THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PASTURE.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT BETWEEN TWO TREES. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE AND WAS DETACHED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A LARGE GATE, CAUGHT FIRE, AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 90' FROM THE IMPACT POINT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE POST CRASH FIRE.  THE PILOT WAS TAKEN TO WARRENTON HOSPITAL (WARRENTON, VA) , AND THE PASSENGER (WIFE) WAS TAKEN TO UVA HOSPITAL ICU (CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA) WITH SERIOUS BURNS.  THE PILOT BELIEVED ENGINE TROUBLE MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO FUEL ISSUE OR SEVERE TURBULENCE.  THE ONSITE INVESTIGATION, ALONG WITH INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ATC AND A FOLLOW-ON INTERVIEW WITH THE  PILOT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS.  REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2011. AT THAT TIME, THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 1,1,54.5 TOTAL HOURS OF OPERATION SINCE NEW. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 60 HOURS FROM THE TIME OF THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION, UNTIL THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIRWORTHY PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. THE NTSB HAD THE ENGINE EXAMINED FOLLOWING RECOVERY. AFTER A REVIEW OF THE EXAMINATION A CONCLUSIVE DETERMINATION OF WHAT CAUSED THIS ENGINE TO LOSE POWER CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE.

## 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 ERA12LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA206), Mar 3, 2012: Mooney M20M (N486KC), Amisville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because of the damage due to the postcrash fire.

## Other reports on N486KC (1)

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

- [Incident 20090112000199I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090112000199I), Jan 12, 2009: Mooney M20M (N486KC), Reidsville, NC, Minor damage. Upon arrival at Shiloh airport (sif) in Rockingham county, NC the pilot neglected to place the landing gear control handle in the down position prior to…

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.