20120917021399A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20M · Crane Hill, AL · September 17, 2012

Date: September 17, 2012 · 13:59 local
Place: Crane Hill, AL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1085A
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA12FA566
Reported as: Mooney M20M
Reported engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N1085ARegistration cancelled Sep 25, 2013 · Mooney M20MS/N 27-0033 · Built 1989 Airframe modelMooney M20M Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On 09/17/2012, aircraft departed destin, Florida (dts) at 17:44Z enroute to gallatin, Tennessee(M33). Atlanta center made contact with N1085A at Z1854:47 , and instructed aircraft to contact zme on frequency 120.8. Aircraft responded, "unable we're battling some pretty bad" end of transmission. At Z1859:05 N1085A broadcast "mayday, mayday". Last transmission. Last beacon target on ntap at Z1859:57. At Z1941:06 Crane Hill police/fire reported aircraft on fire and broken up in field. Aircraft impact markings indicate a near vertical descent. Debris field extended approximately 100 yards on northern heading. Both pilot and passenger received fatal injuries.

As the FAA filed it

ON 09/17/2012, AIRCRAFT DEPARTED DESTIN, FLORIDA (DTS) AT 17:44Z ENROUTE TO GALLATIN, TENNESSEE(M33). ATLANTA CENTER MADE CONTACT WITH N1085A AT Z1854:47 , AND INSTRUCTED AIRCRAFT TO CONTACT ZME ON FREQUENCY 120.8. AIRCRAFT RESPONDED, "UNABLE WE'RE BATTLING SOME PRETTY BAD" END OF TRANSMISSION. AT Z1859:05 N1085A BROADCAST "MAYDAY, MAYDAY". LAST TRANSMISSION. LAST BEACON TARGET ON NTAP AT Z1859:57. AT Z1941:06 CRANE HILL POLICE/FIRE REPORTED AIRCRAFT ON FIRE AND BROKEN UP IN FIELD. AIRCRAFT IMPACT MARKINGS INDICATE A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT. DEBRIS FIELD EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS ON NORTHERN HEADING. BOTH PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA12FA566Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCrane Hill, ALThe pilot’s loss of control in moderate-to-heavy rain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s reliance on ADS-B for tactical weather avoidance.Sep 17, 2012 · Substantial damage