20130722012919A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Mooney M20C · South Lake Taho, CA · July 22, 2013

Date: July 22, 2013 · 11:00 local
Place: South Lake Taho, CA
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6709U
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR13FA335
Reported as: Mooney M20C
Reported engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N6709URegistration cancelled Feb 9, 2018 · Mooney M20CS/N 2441 · Built 1963 Airframe modelMooney M20C Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

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.

According to a witness statement, the aircraft lifted off from runway 36 and at about midfield the aircraft began ?about a 25 degree climbing bank turn to the right (east).? ?then the aircraft appeared to establish a higher pitch up attitude to clear the immediate trees.? The aircraft was no longer climbing and then started to sink. The aircraft then made a slight turn to the left, lost altitude and disappeared behind a ridge/tree line.

The aircraft was found east of the airport in an inverted position.

As the FAA filed it

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS STATEMENT, THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF FROM RUNWAY 36 AND AT ABOUT MIDFIELD THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ?ABOUT A 25 DEGREE CLIMBING BANK TURN TO THE RIGHT (EAST).? ?THEN THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO ESTABLISH A HIGHER PITCH UP ATTITUDE TO CLEAR THE IMMEDIATE TREES.? THE AIRCRAFT WAS NO LONGER CLIMBING AND THEN STARTED TO SINK. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE LEFT, LOST ALTITUDE AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND A RIDGE/TREE LINE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND EAST OF THE AIRPORT IN AN INVERTED POSITION.

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 WPR13FA335Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportSouth Lake Tahoe, CAThe pilot’s decision to turn into rising terrain that would have required performance in excess of the airplane’s maximum climb rate to clear after taking off at a high density altitude.Jul 22, 2013 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6709U · 1

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

Incident 20031224035349IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Palo Alto, CA(-23) Mooney M20C, nose gear collapsed during landing roll at Palo Alto, CA, airport rwy 13 at 231942PST. Two occupants not injured. Minor aircraft damage reported.Dec 24, 2003 · Minor damage