# Accident 20120917021399A: Mooney M20M, Crane Hill, AL, September 17, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 17, 2012, 13:59 local time
- Place: Crane Hill, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9764° N, 87.1172° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9764&lon=-87.1172&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1085A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1085A-2013-09-25) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12FA566](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA566) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120917021399A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ERA12FA566](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA566), Sep 17, 2012: Mooney M20M (N1085A), Crane Hill, AL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

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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